Penang govt spends RM4.44m on overseas missions

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government has spent a total of RM4.44 million from June, 2013, to September, 2016, on overseas missions.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) said 131 missions were conducted over that period with 16 in 2013 (RM444,968.60), 46 in 2014 (RM1.27 million), 35 in 2015 (RM1.9 million) and 34 as at September, 2016 (RM778,148.95).
He said these overseas trips had benefited the state economy, strengthen international relations and enhanced the tourism, environment, agriculture, education, medical, industrial and technological sectors.
He said new ideas were created to improve the economy, especially the small and medium enterprise sectors.
On environmental affairs, Lim said these missions help make cooperation between countries easier in regards to energy conservation, recycling processes, solid waste management and handling global warming.
He said new agriculture technology and processes could be identified for use in Penang and cited examples of using spirulina in managing waste water from farms and tapping renewable energy from farm waste.
“These visits are aimed at enhancing the development of Penang and each mission is planned in detail with specific objectives,” he said in reply to Ong Kok Fooi (DAP–Berapit).
When debating the Supply Bill 2017, Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN–Teluk Bahang) questioned the state on tabling deficit budgets yearly only to declare a surplus when the accounts close.
He asked if the state has conducted a study to identify why allocations were left unspent and whether the state was using cost-saving as a way to earn political mileage.
“What about the people who are hoping for a positive impact from allocations in the budget?” he asked.
Elaborating outside, Shah Headan urged the state to use excess funds to generate economic activity by spending on infrastructure projects like building roads especially during uncertain economic times.
He said half of the money in the state reserves, some RM1.2 billion, should be spent to benefit the people of Penang.