Perak BN gov't lambasted over record RM104mil deficit

Perak Pakatan leaders are going on the warpath against the BN state government for creating the highest deficit - RM104 million - in the state's history.

According to senior Pakatan leader Ngeh Koo Ham, the state government had presented a deficit budget of RM23,890,000 for 2010 and now is going for another additional RM80 million in the coming Perak Assembly sitting on Aug 3.

In these circumstances, the Perak BN government is expected to register RM103,890,000 in deficit for 2010, which is the highest in the history of Perak, he said.

Ngeh (left) claimed that Pakatan was able to save RM103 million in revenue during its 10-month rule of the state whereas BN is creating history with its projected deficit through alleged wastage of public funds.

In a media statement, he gave examples such as the creation of new political posts for Chan Ko Youn, S Veerasingam and Hamdi Abu Bakar which came with high salaries and perks similar to those of state executive committee members.

Ngeh asked, "Why does the state government need Chan and Veerasingam as state advisors with exco pay and benefits?"

"Is (Menteri Besar) Zambry (Abdul Kadir) admitting that he is not competent to govern the state or is he trying to benefit BN candidates who lost in the last general election?"

The Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyperson also accused Zambry of using public funds to print thousands of posters and place advertisements in the media to promote himself, and allegedly sending Teachers Day greeting cards to every teacher.

Open tenders

He advised Zambry to follow the trend of Pakatan by having open tenders both in government contracts and in awarding timber concessions, which will greatly increase the state's coffers.

Ngeh also wants the Perak Menteri Besar to itemise what was the proposed use of the additional RM80 million, as the people have the right to know where public funds are going.

Meanwhile, DAP state secretary Nga Kor Ming (right) sarcastically said that BN passed a RM179 million state budget in 20 minutes on Oct 28 last year, thus creating a world record.

He said, "If the supplementary budget of RM80 million is approved, then the Perak state government's deficit will reach approximately 14.2 percent, which is three times worse than the Federal Government's 5.6 percent deficit and 4.3 times worse than the 3.3 percent international benchmark fixed by the European Union on sustainable development."