KUCHING, Nov 22: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen has questioned the huge disparities between the figures presented by the Premier of Sarawak and those outlined in the Sarawak Budget 2024 document.
In the Sarawak Budget 2024 tabled on Monday, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg proposed a total ordinary expenditure of RM12.363 billion, of which RM4.563 billion is for operating expenditure, while RM7.8 billion is for appropriation for the Development Fund Account to finance various development programmes and projects.
“However, if we look at the Budget document which is Command Paper 11 of 2023, the operating expenditure stated is RM12.363 billion and the total expenditure indicated is RM21.4 billion.
“I am very puzzled about the figures shown as to why is there such a huge discrepancy in what was announced by Premier and the figure stated in the Budget document,” he told a press conference at the Media Room of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex today.
Chong had also raised this issue earlier when participating in the debate for the Sarawak Budget 2024 in the august House.
Having checked previous years’ Budget, he also sought clarification on how the operating expenditure could have shot up from RM3.8 billion in 2021 to RM12.3 billion within a span of two years.
“By any common sense, the budget deficit or surplus is derived by extracting total expenditure from total revenue. The total revenue is RM12.7 billion but the total expenditure in this Command Paper 11 is RM21 billion,” he said.
Expressing concern over the significant variance in the presented figures, Chong suggested that such discrepancies could lead to a substantial budget deficit.
“I believe there must be a mistake or perhaps, there is a change in the budget preparation procedure.
“So I hope the Minister of Finance can come out to explain this discrepancy because at the end of the day, this is the document that will be approved by the Dewan and thus, we cannot have such huge discrepancy appearing in the document and yet not being accounted for or explained,” he added. — DayakDaily
