PMD gets additional RM1.5bil, more money for Permata

BUDGET 2018 | The Prime Minister's Department (PMD) received a RM1.5 billion bump to RM17.4 billion - an increase of 9.3 percent from Budget 2017.

The increase came amid expectations that the country's revenue will see better performance.

This was in contrast to Budget 2017, which saw an RM4.4 billion cut, the first since 2012.

The PMD's budget for 2018 will comprise 6.2 percent of the national budget. It made up 6.06 percent of the 2017 budget.

At its peak in 2016, the PMD made up 7.6 percent of the national budget.

Despite the increase in the PMD's budget for 2018, it appeared to have gone through a budgetary restructuring exercise with several units being moved around or scaled back in an apparent attempt to contain operational cost.

For example, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) which was allocated RM647.7 million in Budget 2017, had its budget slashed to RM520.1 million for 2018.

However, Permata saw an increase in allocation from RM45.3 million this year to RM54.3 million in 2018.

Also seeing an increase is the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), which has an allocated sum of RM810.9 million for 2018, compared to RM744.95 million this year.

The RM744.95 million for 2017 however excluded the year's allocation for the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi), which in the 2018 budget was no longer placed under Jakim.

The overall allocation increase for the PMD was the 8th largest in terms of percentage for Budget 2018.

PM DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET

PM DEPARTMENT'S SHARE OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET

 Source: Federal Expenditure Estimate 2010-2018

- Mkini