THE Penang 2018 Budget will have a projected deficit of RM748.5mil, with its “Belanjawan Marhaen” or “Budget for the Many”.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in his speech on Nov 2 said the Budget emphasised on the ordinary citizens.
“This Budget is our value statement which reflects the core values of the Pakatan Harapan state government.
“We must care for the ordinary people, men and women on the street and working families so the people are not left behind in the new digital economy of the Industry Revolution 4.0,” Lim said.
The state 2018 Budget projected deficit of RM748.5mil was higher than the projected deficit of RM667mil in the 2017 Budget.
Lim said however, Penang has been recording actual surpluses each year despite tabling projected Budget deficits.
“We managed to do so through savings from our open tender system and the efficient CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) administration.
“We are focusing on sustainable development with five major pillars, namely economic, political, social, cultural and environmental sustainability,” Lim said.
Among the many initiatives announced were the “I Love Penang” card, free bus services during peak hours, the RM60mil Penang Sihat Card programme, the RM15mil child care assistance for working mothers, senior citizens and disabled community appreciation scheme and the RM10mil for hill protection.
i. “I Love Penang” card
the key to access various social amenities and benefits provided by the state government.
the Budget for Penang Institute has been increased to RM4.5mil and they will be tasked with implementing the smartcard.
ii. Free bus services during peak hours
state to set aside RM15mil to get more people to use public transport by providing free rides during the peak hours in morning and evening, on all RapidPenang buses.
state will work with RapidPenang to expand the service network, revamp some of the routes to improve bus journeys, making them faster, more frequent and more reliable; and to put more buses on the road.
state willing to start the programme immediately, provided Prasarana Malaysia Berhad gives its commitment in writing to add 200 new buses and to provide free bus rides on all RapidPenang buses during the peak hours – in the morning and evening.
programme can only work when the state adopts a robust cashless smartcard system that allows both users and bus operators to monitor bus trips and usage electronically, with reference to the “I Love Penang” card.
state will set up a new planning unit called Transport Penang, comprised a small team of transport planners, modellers and experts who will report to the Penang Transport Council headed by state Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
iii. Penang Sihat Card programme
households with monthly income of RM5,000 and below to be given RM300 credit yearly in their “I Love Penang” card to pay their outpatient treatments and medicines in private clinics, capped at RM50 per visit.
those who are single with income of less than RM2,500 will get RM150 credit a year, also capped at RM50 per visit.
iv. Child care assistance for working mothers
from 2018, all working mothers up to age 60 with children under six years will receive RM300 cash incentive a year.
v. Senior citizens and disabled community appreciation scheme
Penang government will be increasing the payment by 30% from RM100 to RM130.
vi. Environmental sustainability
state will be allocating RM10mil for hillslope protection together with a study on climate change.