Sabah approved an RM1.04 billion supplementary bill aimed at improving infrastructure, cover operational costs and welfare aid today.
State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun when tabling the bill the additional funds under Budget 2024 are crucial to keep the state running its affairs.
Masidi outlined that the funds are allocated to six main categories: RM295 million for the state development trust fund, RM288 million for operational costs, RM173 million for administrative expenses, RM101 million for special allocations, RM80 million for investment funds and RM64 million for grants.
He noted that the largest portion of the supplementary bill is allocated to the Finance Ministry (RM529 million), followed by the Works Ministry (RM204.9 million), the Chief Minister’s Department (RM109.9 million), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries Ministry (RM55.9 million), and the Local Government and Housing Ministry (RM32 million).
Additional funds are also allocated to the Youth and Sports Ministry (RM31.9 million) and other ministries and departments (RM39.9 million).
Among those who debated the bill were Senallang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Sindumin’s Datuk Dr. Yusof Yacob, Lamag assemblyman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, Moyog’s Datuk Darell Leiking, Kemabong’s Datuk Rubin Balang, and Tanjung Aru’s Datuk Junz Wong.
Heated exchange also occurred when Masidi explaining to the claims that the state has now run into a deficit in its budget.
He said the state will not incur a massive deficit as the state revenues have increased by an additional RM1 billiion, bringing the projection to RM7 billion.
He noted the concerns of the state lawmakers, saying the deficit occurred because of an earlier projection of the state revenues of RM6 billion.
Under the state budget 2024, the state has tabled a surplus budget of RM5.701 billion, with the surplus of RM35.87 million.
Masidi got into a verbal spat with Merotai Assemblyman from Warisan Sarifuddin Hata when denying that the present state administration of overspending.
According to him, Warisan had also approved a massive supplementary budget to deal with Covid-19 when it was governing the state and another massive budget was approved during the Barisan Nasional administration previously.
Sarifuddin did not take the matter lightly to Masidi’s insinuation but the latter explained his statements should not be misconstrued as an attack to his party.
Instead, Masidi said his words were to pointed out that the present state government was not overspending as alleged.
