PONTIAN, Nov 25 — The government still has a balance of funds from Budget 2023 involving development expenditure (DE) and operating expenditure (OE), which should be used until the year’s end.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the remaining allocation channelled through the budget involved DE at 18 per cent and OE at eight per cent, with a total of RM388.1 billion.
As of Thursday (November 23), 26 ministries have used 82 per cent for DE and 92 per cent for OE.
“As such, the ministries must finish the balance 100 per cent of Budget 2023 before December 31.
“For Budget 2024, the total is RM393.8 billion with RM303.8 billion for operating expenditure (OE) while the remaining RM90 billion is for development expenditure (DE),” he told the press after officiating the Heart Health Awareness Programme at Dewan Muafakat, Benut today.
Meanwhile, on the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report (2022 LKAN), Ahmad regretted the ‘loss’ of RM681.71 million of public money and considered it a big sum when the people had hope projects planned by the ministry would be implemented.
Based on the 2022 LKAN report, all 26 ministries need to take note of this year’s (2023) expenditure under the Unity Government so that the matter does not happen again.
“The Finance Ministry regrets that RM687.71 million was reported missing. MOF had a hard time finding money, but if it is leaked or lost, it is to the detriment of the people,” he said.
Earlier, Auditor-General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi said the loss of money was related to the exemption of fines imposed on late supply and fertiliser, channelling of padi subsidy and intensive planting aid, failure to collect land lease revenue, and replacement of disposed firearms.
— Bernama
