KELANTAN TABLES DEFICIT BUDGET AMOUNTING RM66.02 MLN

KOTA BHARU, Nov 5 -- Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob today presented the 2021 Budget with an estimated deficit of RM66.02 million, a RM19.95 million increase from the previous year’s budget of RM46.07 million.

He said although each year the state estimated a deficit, for three consecutive years, the state government had actually recorded budget surplus.

"In 2017, there was a surplus of RM38.2 million, in 2018 (RM40.4 million) and in 2019 (RM45.69 million)," he said when tabling the budget during the Kelantan state assembly sitting at Kota Darulnaim here.

Ahmad said the financial performance in 2020 is also expected to reduce the current deficit as a result of the state government’s prudent spending.

He said the state is targeting a revenue of RM1.02 billion next year  which includes Tax Revenue of RM214.91 million, Non-Tax Revenue (RM454.44 million) and Non-Tax Revenue Receipts of RM354.32 million.

"The amount shows an increase of RM274.96 million (38.73 per cent) from the 2020 estimated revenue of RM748.71 million," he said.

Ahmad said fixed land revenue remains the largest contributor amounting RM355.95 million (34.77 per cent) of total revenue which is a RM46.56 million (15.05 per cent) increase compared to the 2020 estimate of RM309.39 million.

He said receipts from government agencies is the second largest contributor with a contribution of RM289.65 million (28.30 per cent) of total revenue while receipts from the Federal government is estimated at RM284.15 million.

"The third largest contributor, other receipts amount to RM209.9 million (10.82 per cent), followed by forest revenue  with a contribution of RM129.5 million (12.65 per cent) of total revenue," he said.

Meanwhile, estimated operating expenditure is expected to amount to RM1.09 billion as compared to RM794 million in 2020.

He said RM1.05 billion is allocated to 31 state government departments and other services while Statutory Fund allocation has been increased by RM293.74 million compared to RM752.13 million this year.

The estimated development expenditure for next year is RM479.29 million which is an increase of RM169.77 million compared to the previous year, where RM419.29 million will be from the state’s allocation and RM60 million from loan sources.

The assembly sitting continues this Sunday.

-- BERNAMA