BY: ERMIZI MUHAMAD
DENGKIL, OCT 23: Federal budget cuts around 18% involving development expenditure announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to affect federal government development in Selangor.
Dato’ Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said that the situation showed the Umno Barisan Nasional federal government’s reluctance to encourage the growth of development in Selangor.
“If we consider the Federal Budget, it is almost impossible for the federal government to help the state government in developing infrastructure in the state.
“This is clearly irresponsible planning because of the low development allocation of 18%, which amounts to RM46 billion out of the total RM260 billion announced in the Budget,” he said.
He said this during his speech at the Labohan Dagang Plant Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, had previously tabled the 2017 Budget on October 21 at the Dewan Rakyat, with an allocation of RM260.8 bilion, a 3.4% increase from the 2016 Revised Budget.
From that total, RM214.8 bilion (82%) is for operating expenditure while RM46 bilion (18%) is for development expenditure.
In contrast, the state government will table its 2017 Budget with a balanced approach towards development and administration aspects.
A total of 50% will be for development expenditure and another 50% will be for administration expenditure.
Mohamed Azmin will table the State Budget on October 31 that will focus on strengthening the rakyat’s economy.
MB: No federal development allocation for Selangor
