THE Negri Sembilan government today presented its Budget 2023 of RM550 million with an estimated revenue of RM450 million and a development budget of RM130 million.

Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, when presenting the ‘Melunas Janji dan Menggalas Harapan’ budget, said it included the social development, agriculture, infrastructure, spirituality, administration and tourism sectors.

“The proposed budget is in deficit by RM100 million. Even though it is the third year of presenting a budget in deficit, it was done in a targeted manner and is still within the capacity of the state’s cash reserves.

“It is also an intervention by the state government in stimulating the domestic economy based on the developed input-output model,” he said to the state assembly today.

He said tax revenue is expected to contribute as much as RM160 million (35.5%), while non-tax revenue is estimated at RM228 million (50.7%), non-revenue receipts are RM62.2 million (13.8%).

Aminuddin said the revenue collection performance has increased, with the highest collection record in 2019 of RM556 million, while investment inflows exceed RM5 billion every year from 2019 to 2021.

In addition, he said there was RM107 million for 64 initiatives.

“The education sector is allocated RM18.7 million, welfare maintains seven initiatives (RM2.74 million), community empowerment (RM36.7 million) and youth and women (RM6.2 million),” he said.

In the meantime, the state government also announced special financial assistance of six weeks’ pay or a minimum of RM2,500 to approximately 5,599 civil servants, which will be paid in early January and the first week of April next year.

The Sikamat assemblyman said it was to appreciate the services provided by civil servants in improving government administration and always committed to shouldering their respective responsibilities.

“We faced a difficult year earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even when faced with the risk of infection, civil servants remained steadfast in fulfilling their trust to ensure the service achievement continues to for the sake of the people’s well-being.

“On this occasion I am pleased to announce that the collection of state revenue up to noon yesterday amounted to RM444 million or 10%, which is more than the RM100 million collection for the same period last year. This is a great and proud achievement, thanks to everyone,” he said. – Bernama, November 25, 2022.