KUCHING, July 12: The State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today passed two Supplementary Supply Bills tabled by Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
The Bills are Supplementary Supply (2017) Bill, 2018 and Supplementary Supply (2018) Bill, 2018.
The Supplementary Supply (2017) Bill, 2018’s First Supplementary Estimates of Ordinary Expenditure 2017 sought approval for an additional expenditure of RM220,851,572 that was incurred by various ministries and departments in 2017.
Wong said the amount required had either been wired from savings or advanced from the Contingencies Fund.
In addition, the Bill also sought approval for the First Supplementary Estimates of Development Expenditure 2017 for an additional expenditure of RM29,187,982.
Wong said the amount was required to cover the additional expenditure incurred by the various ministries and departments in 2017.
Wong explained and itemised the additional amounts, which was used to meet urgent requirements in carrying out development programmes and projects in 2017 by the various ministries and departments.
They are Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation (RM80), Ministry of Utilities (RM70), Ministry of Industrial and Natural Resources (RM10,941,970), Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development (RM3,549,232), Ministry of Local Government and Housing (RM11,054,330), Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports (RM1,932,110), State Financial Secretary (RM1,710,070), State Secretary (RM10) and Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture and Native Land and Regional Development (RM110).
As for the First Supplementary Estimates of Ordinary Expenditure 2018, an additional sum of RM2,648,148,090 was required, where RM2,500 million was for contribution to the Statutory Funds for development purposes.
“Another RM148,148,090 is required to cater for various expenditures under various ministries and departments,” said Wong.
He elaborated that a total sum of RM54,160,100 was required by the Chief Minister’s Department, where RM22,000,000 was for rental of aircraft, RM31,560,100 was contribution to the State Celebration Trust Fund for organising six main state celebrations, and RM600,000 for the New Year Countdown 2019.
“A sum of RM35,000,000 is required under the General Administration (B.15) for payment of allowances to community leaders, and a sum of RM25,300,000 is required by Public Works Recurrent for management of ferry services throughout the state,” said Wong.
He added that RM12,077,700 was required by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports for the following: RM4,120,000 was an additional operating grant to Sarawak Tourism Board for the Visit Sarawak Year 2019 campaign and RM7,957,700 for additional operating grant to Sarawak Sports Corporation for organising the World Para Swimming Championship 2018 and the 21th Master Asia Championship 2019.
In addition, Wong said a sum of RM5,386,750 was required by the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing and Women, Family and Childhood Development for organising various activities under the Early Childhood Development Programme (RM1,082,600) and Sports for the Disabled 2018 (RM4,304,150).
“A sum of RM12,700,000 is required by the Rural Water Supply Department for the purchase of treated water from Kuching Water Board, RM2,933,540 by the Department of Veterinary Services for the operation and maintenance of the biogas plant and pig farm areas, and RM5900,000 by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research for operating grant to Sarawak Research and Development Council,” he said.
For the First Supplementary Estimates of Development Expenditure 2018, an additional sum of RM3,572,491,460 was required to meet additional requirements for the implementation of various development programmes and projects for this year.
Wong explained that RM3,427,450,600 was required by the State Finance Secretary, where RM2,592,689,600 was used for the acquisition of 15 per cent shares in MLNG Tiga.
He added that RM150,000,000 was used as reimbursement of Timber Cess collection at Yayasan Sarawak Concession Areas; RM50,000,000 for Centre of Technical Excellence Kuching, Lundu and Lawas; and RM15,000,000 for the proposed implementation and completion of Tatau Kampung Extension Phase I by the Bintulu Development Authority.
Additionally, RM33,761,000 was needed for the proposed Waterfront and Musical Fountain works at the DUN complex by Kuching City North Commission (DBKU); RM580,000,000 for the Special Development Assistance Fund and Minor Rural Project and Rural Transformation Projects; and RM6,000,000 for the construction of RMM Rangau Limbang under the Housing Development Corporation.
Meanwhile, Wong also revealed that a sum of RM6,000,000 was required by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for upgrading works to Sri Aman Waterfront for Pesta Benak and RM84,000,000 by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation for the implementation of feeder road projects in Kuching and Sarikei divisions.
“A sum of RM31,500,000 is required by Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development for the implementation of agriculture and veterinary projects and programmes throughout the state. A sum of RM5,235,860 is required by Ministry of Urban Development, Environment and Natural Resources for the Implementation of Kampung Sadong Jaya extension scheme.
“A sum of RM9,000,000 is required by Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development for the Bio-Valley Satellite Miri, and a sum of RM9,305,000 is required by the State Secretary to finance seven on-going studies,” said Wong. — DayakDaily
