Melaka govt tables RM390mil budget for 2020

Adly Zahari (left)

MELAKA: Melaka government has tabled an allocation involving RM390mil, with a surplus of RM220,000 for 2020, making it a surplus budget for 16 years running.

Chief Minister Adly Zahari said it was an increment of 2.03% from this year’s budget of RM382.23mil, and it’s a minimal increase considering the steps taken by the state government on cost-saving measures.

He said that the budget comprises a management expense of RM380.83mil and a liability expenditure of RM9.17mil.

"The surplus budget showed that the state government continued to take steps to strengthen its financial resources and prudent spending," he said in his speech when tabling the budget at the Melaka state assembly sitting at Seri Negeri on Monday (Nov 18).

Adly said the budget management expenses were broken into RM168.24mil, or 44.18% of the total expenditure for services and supplies, emolument (RM107.96mil), grants and fixed payments (RM99.65mil), procurement of assets (RM4.39mil) and the remaining for other expenses.

Adly said the state government’s revenue was expected to increase to RM390.22mil in 2020, compared with RM384.29mil this year, a 1.54% hike.

He said the revenue from taxes like quit rents are anticipated to amount RM154.65mil next year and revenue from non-revenue receipt is estimated at RM181.55mil deriving from interest rates, investment dividends, licence and permit payments, land premiums and service charges.

On top of it, he said the state government could also accept RM54.02mil in Federal Government allocations and loan repayments from state government agencies.

Adly said the state government also announced a long-term plan for flood mitigation efforts in the state that involves a RM289mil fund and the project is expected to be completed by the year 2022.

He said to manage flash floods, the state government with the assistance from the Federal Government, had allocated RM80.86mil for next year including to upgrade the floodgate at Sungai Melaka, rehabilitation of river estuaries and upgrading irrigations.