Kedah opposition wants details on RM660mil reserves

 

Derga assemblyman Tan Kok Yew says the RM32.4 million pledged by the state for Covid-19 aid is too little compared to the reserve funds. (Facebook pic)

ALOR SETAR: Kedah’s opposition bench said the state government should give a detailed breakdown on the nearly RM660 million it has in reserves, following concerns of how the sum has been claimed to be revenue by the government bench during debates at the state assembly.

They also called on the state to repurpose the reserve fund as Covid-19 aid to the people and businesses suffering because of the pandemic.

In a press conference by Kedah Pakatan Harapan elected representatives today, Derga assemblyman Tan Kok Yew said about RM200 million from the reserves could be used to help Kedahans suffering from the effects of a struggling economy.

The DAP representative said the RM32.4 million pledged by the state for Covid-19 aid was too little compared to the reserve funds.

Tan said it was also disappointing that the Kedah government only planned to come up with a Covid-19 recovery plan at the end of the year, a move he described as incompetent.

Menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the state assembly earlier that it was impossible to spend the RM660 million for anything else because it was already budgeted and could not be used for other purposes such as Covid-19 aid.

Tan said no budget was set in stone, as a special assembly sitting could be convened to table a new budget for Covid-19 so that the reserves could be used to help Kedahans.

PKR’s Gurun assemblyman Johari Abdul said the state government could not place revenue from other sources, such as federal funding, into the consolidated funds and later proclaim it to be revenue.

He said to claim that all RM660 million was revenue or savings was inaccurate, hence a detailed breakdown of the reserves and where it would be spent was needed.

Kedah opposition leader Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi said deposits such as development contributions should be placed in separate trust funds so as to be more accountable.

Jitra assemblyman Mukhriz Mahathir said it was also wrong for the government to say that the zakat authorities had used RM48 million in tithes to help Covid-19 victims.

He said this was because tithes were collected from the people and could not be construed as government funding. - FMT