Advertisement signboards and airtime among new methods mooted - The Star

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.

Make fighting the dengue menace a priority as it involves lives, Dr Zambry says - The Star

THE Ipoh City Council has received flak from the Perak Mentri Besar over the number of illegal dumpsites found in the city centre.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the city council should not give any excuses and must clear the dumpsites that were said to be a contributing factor to the high number of dengue cases in Ipoh.

Dr Zambry was also fuming over the fact that due to dengue, the number of deaths had risen to 17.

“Though we are not the highest when compared to other states, it is not an excuse not to do anything about it.

“Dengue is a serious matter as it involves lives,” he said after chairing the state executive council meeting on Wednesday.

“The city council and all the other local councils must take action to ensure that dengue cases are minimised or eradicated,” he said.

It has been reported that about 1,263 dumpsites were found scattered throughout the city, allowing Aedes mosquitoes to breed.

Dr Zambry stressed that the city council should not use the lack of allocations as its excuse.

“If they don’t have the resources, come to the state government. They must know how to prioritise matters and take immediate action as it involves lives,” he said.

“People are dying. They cannot say no budget,” he added.

Dr Zambry said the state was also looking into the possibility of introducing the usage of polystyrene foam pellets to cover septic tanks at residential areas.

“This is one method that we are looking at that can stop mosquitoes from breeding, apart from having cleaning activities.

“This will be useful in areas that are prone to having dengue cases,” he said.

MB opens 'Zambry clinic' to solve people's problems - Malaysiakini

Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir has set up the 'Klinik Dr Zambry' to make easier his task of solving the people's problems and for the people to see him.

He said his 'mobile clinic' was open to everybody, including opposition members and supporters.

“This clinic is an extension of the meet the people programme which we have held.

“Previously, we held dialogues, but I still feel there is a gap between me and the people,” he told reporters after a monthly assembly with state government officers in Ipoh today.

He said the government's move in changing the venue of its weekly state executive council meeting to the districts and villages was part of an effort to reduce bureaucracy and provide opportunities for local residents to voice their problems.

At the function, Zambry also launched the Perak state secretariat short messaging service (SMS) which enabled the public to send their complaints or check the status of their applications with the relevant state agencies by sending them to mySMS 15888.

They will be charged 35 sen for each SMS.