National sprinter Muhammad Azeem to receive RM600,000 Perak education fund

IPOH: National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi will be given a state education fund worth RM600,000 in recognition of his achievements at the international stage.

"Muhammad Azeem broke the national record for the 100m event at the World Youth Athletes Championship in Colombia in August 2022.

"This is also to encourage other youth to be successful in sports or education," Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said when tabling the state budget during the state assembly sitting on Thursday (Dec 22).

"The men's state hockey team that defended the Tun Abdul Razak Trophy for the third time will be given an incentive of RM100,000," he added.

Saarani said allocations to all 59 state assemblymen and the State Speaker would continue.

"Each will receive RM300,000 a year for small infrastructural projects, programmes and supplies.

"A total of RM20.4mil will also be allocated to the assemblymen for main festival programmes," he said.

"Each state executive council member will also get an additional RM300,000, which is not limited to their constituencies.

"State assemblymen's service centres will also get RM7,000 a month, which amounts to about RM5mil for all 59 service centres," he added.

He also announced a one-off bonus worth at least RM2,000 to all civil servants, including ex-officials.

"The Mentri Besar and the state excos will not be receiving this.

"This is show appreciation to frontliners for working hard, especially when helping flash flood victims," he said.

Saarani said RM1.19bil has been allocated for the 2023 State Budget.

He said the budget was planned based on the estimated expenses for operations of RM794mil and development of RM395mil.

He said the budget was based on three core foundations, which are Dynamic, Realistic and Achievable.

"There would be five focuses in the budget, including well-being of the people; governance of state projects; environmental sustainability; sustainability of food supply and human capital and youth development.

He said the expected revenue and collection for 2023 is about RM1.16bil.

"These consisted of RM549mil from tax collection, RM394mil from non-tax revenue and RM190mil from non-revenue receipts.

"The total expenditure for 2023 is expected to be about RM1.19bil," he said when tabling the budget during the state assembly sitting on Wednesday (Dec 22).

"These include RM395mil for development (33.2%), RM794mil for administrative purposes (66.8%)," he said.

"About RM380.1mil is for emolument, RM294 for services and supplies, RM14.6mil asset procurement and other expenses," he added.