THE state government has 19 new initiatives to generate more revenue.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (BN-Pangkor) said aside from relying on conventional methods of collecting revenue from land, water and forest, he said the state has formed committees to discuss new methods to add more revenue.
“Some of the new plans are through advertisement signboards and airtime.
“Other sources included royalty, entertainment duty, land reserve usage, enforcement from wrongful use of land and utility usage,” he said during his winding up speech for the Perak Budget 2015 at the state assembly sitting on Friday.
“We also started a renewable energy project three years ago, so maybe we can get some revenue from there.
“From the end of 2013 until early 2014, all land offices, district offices and the state finance officer met and came up with 46 initiatives to get more revenue. We will study these from time to time,” he added.
Last Monday, Dr Zambry announced a RM50.06mil deficit for the state budget next year.
He had said the expected revenue for 2015 was just over RM1bil, while its management expenditure and allocation for development would total RM1.05bil.
He noted that the budget, themed “Perak Amanjaya, Rakyat Terpelihara” (Perak Amanjaya, People Cared For), was based on four principles — affordable, realistic, achievable and sustainable.
Dr Zambry said that the development in the state was right on track.
“Even if the economy next year proves to be challenging, we will increase our budget for development.
“Each budget we planned and prepared is for the betterment of the people,” he said, adding that the state was facing the challenge of limited resources versus rising expectations.
On the proposed entry fee to enter the Matang Mangrove Eco-Learning Centre, Dr Zambry said folks from nearby villages will be exempted from paying it.
“After much consideration, we’ve decided that residents from surrounding villages need not pay any entry fee.
“The same applies to four other recreational parks at Pulau Tali Kail in Gerik, Ulu Kenas at Kuala Kangsar, Lata Kinjang and Kuala Woh at Tapah. Annual passes will be given to them instead,” he said.
To tackle the issue of ketum (a hallucinogenic plant) in Pengkalan Hulu, Dr Zambry said the police have held border talks with Thailand over the matter.
He said 87 cases have been reported involving the drug and there were also Thai nationals crossing the border to obtain ketum.
The budget was approved after five days of intense debate, which started on Monday.
The sitting was adjourned sine die by State Speaker Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany.
No comments:
Post a Comment