Why do you need more funds, Khalid?

(Bernama) – The Selangor Government’s request for an additional RM761.44 million for expenses, after being allowed RM1.63 billion in November last year, has raised questions.

Permatang Barisan Nasional assemblyman Sulaiman Razak claimed the Selangor Government had consistently requested for additional allocation each year since 2009.

He said state government had tabled a balanced budget for 2009, 2010, 2010 and 2012 but at each state assembly sitting during those years, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim would inevitably ask for an additional allocation to finance the increasing operational costs.

This year, Sulaiman said, Khalid had asked for RM761.44 million.

Sulaiman was debating the Supplementary Supply Bill 2013 under which Khalid had made the request for the additional funding.

He said in the 2009 Budget, the Selangor government experienced a deficit of RM120 million, while in the years 2010 and 2011 the amount had been RM194 million and RM210 million respectively. But 2012  the deficit was RM167.12.

He said the additional amount asked for this time was huge, at RM761.44 million or a deficit of 47 per cent from the balanced 2013 Budget of RM1.63 billion, which was tabled in November last year.

“After only five to six months, the state government has already spent RM1.63 billion,” he said.

Sulaiman also questioned the need to borrow RM80 million from the state treasury for government-subsidiary company, Selangor State Development Corporation.

The RM80 million, he said was for the purpose of taking over a piece of land belonging to the Petaling Jaya City Council to develop the Datum In-City project.

Sulaiman also questioned the RM413.2 million borrowed from the state treasury for Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd to take over Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd.

He said state government subsidiary companies should be able to stand on their own feet instead of obtaining loans from the state government.

He also asked why almost every year, the state government had to ask for an additional allocation to support the provision of free water for the first 20 cubic metres to consumers in Selangor.

At the assembly sitting this time, Khalid asked for RM83 million to subsidise the free water for July to December this year, and another RM22 million to cover the existing allocation which had been used for the free water subsidy for May to June.

The state assembly sitting continues today.