THE Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has received another increase in its annual budget, albeit a smaller sum of RM477 million or 4% in Budget 2022, compared to last year.

In next year’s budget, the PMO will be given RM4.52 billion for operating expenditure and RM7.67 billion for development expenditure, taking the total to RR12.2 billion. 

Last year’s increase was higher at RM2.95 billion, or 33%, making it a total of RM11.73 billion. 

The PMO budgets in 2019 and 2020 were RM6.9 billion and RM8.7 billion respectively. 

Next year, the bulk of the increased RM477 million will go towards development expenditure.

While operating expenditures were greatly reduced in some departments, four items were awarded larger budgets for 2022.

These include the national security council, which was provided an additional RM290 million, taking its budget for next year to RM332 million.

Other items include development programmes (RM466 million), e-government programme (RM802 million) and maintenance for government quarters and official residences (RM257 million). 

However, the report does not explain the reasons for the increases.

On the development side, Program Kelestarian Felda was allocated RM1.14 billion followed by special projects (RM1 billion) and digital government (RM177 million). 

The poverty eradication programme had its budget slashed from RM55 million to RM34 million.

Earlier today, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz tabled a higher national budget of RM332 billion for 2022. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia will be given RM2.62 billion, a 12% or RM313 million more than the previous year.

Despite an increase in funds, the ministry has budgeted for lower operating expenditure. In the notes, RTM’s budget for next year was cut from RM586 million to RM469 million, while Jabatan Penerangan’s funding was reduced to RM142 million from RM158 million.

Hence, the bulk of the increase or an additional RM586 million went to development expenditure.

Among the items listed were Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) RM700 million, redevelopment of Angkasapuri as Media City (RM175 million), high definition digital TV system (RM84 million), radio automation system (RM50 million), FM broadcasting system (RM53 million), upgrading of Jabatan Penerangan offices (RM36 million) and building a communications infrastructure for smart city (RM100 million). – October 29, 2021.