Sabah announces a budget of RM4.088 billion for 2013

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The Sabah government has allocated a budget of RM4.088 billion for the state in 2013, a rise by RM40 million compared with the estimated provision in 2012.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who is also State Finance Minister, said the estimated 2013 budget covered three main areas, namely emoluments with an allocation of RM663.17 million (an increase by RM39.51 million from the RM623.66 million allocated in 2012), recurrent expenditure with RM1.120 billion (an increase of RM32.92 million from RM1.087 billion) and special expenditure with an allocation of RM2.337 billion (an addition of RM34 million from RM2.303 billion in 2012).

"The 2013 budget reflects our commmitment to continue to provide the best of services and care for the people and state of Sabah.

"This budget has been set for the entire spectrum of the society, taking into consideration the needs and well being of all people in the state and bringing the development of the state to a higher level," he told reporters after tabling the budget at the State Assembly here today.

Musa also said the state revenue had gone up and projected to amount to RM3.828 billion next year compared with an earlier projection of RM3.69 billion.

"Taking into consideration the average revenue of Sabah for the last three years (2009-2011) which was in the region of RM3.8 billion a year, the state government is confident that the target set for next year is reasonably attainable.

"Hence, the state is also not planning on introducing any new tax or raising existing tax rates."

He also said that the revenue estimate for this year had been revised to RM4.022 billion, a rise by 8.97 per cent from the original estimate.

The major contributors to revenue are crude palm oil duties, petroleum royalties, procurement and returns from investments as well as non-revenue receivables comprising mainly allocations and contributions from the Federal government.

Musa said the state's revenue would come under three categories, namely tax revenue which is expected to amount to RM1.225 billion, non-tax revenue (RM2.26 billion) and non-revenue receivables (RM343.28 million).

On the allocation for development, Musa said RM2.242 billion had been set aside with RM1 billion to be financed by the state government and RM1.42 billion from the federal government.

He also announced an allocation of RM32 million for Chinese and missionary schools and non-Islamic bodies next year.