Sabah presents surplus budget for 4th time

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has presented Budget 2018 with an allocation of RM4.104 billion.
Themed "Empowering the Economy, Prospering the People", the allocation is higher than last year's RM3.784 billion and promises a surplus for the fourth time.
Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman said Sabah's revenue collection in 2018 is estimated at RM4.169 billion, while its expenditure at RM4.104 billion, resulting in a surplus of RM64.89 million.
The state government has proposed to set aside RM1.090 billion for development expenditure, with the federal government's allocation accounted for RM251.75 million, Musa said when presenting Budget 2018 at the State Assembly here today.
Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, said revenue projection for 2018 is estimated at RM4.169 billion, up 9.2% from RM3.817 billion in 2017.
He said of the amount, RM1.128 billion would be from tax revenue, RM2.638 billion (non-tax revenue) and RM401.5 million (non-revenue receipts).
He said petroleum royalty revenue would increase by 31.2% to RM1.319 billion in 2018 compared with that of 2017.
Musa also announced a special assistance of RM1,500 for state civil servants, of which RM1,000 would be paid in January 2018 and the remaining RM500 before Aidilfitri next year. — Bernama