KUANTAN: The per capita income for Pahang next year is expected to increase to RM8,245 from RM6,648 in 2005, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
He said this projection was based on the state’s political stability and healthy economic climate to spur business activities and generate a higher income.
”The main economic contributor for Pahang is still agriculture and the agro-based industries sector.
”However, the manufacturing sector has improved its ranking to the second spot ahead of the services sector, signalling a shift to more-value added economic activities,” he said when tabling the state budget at the assembly here yesterday.
Adnan said as at August, the state had collected RM343.9mil in revenue, which was 74.46% of the target of RM461.86mil.
He said if the trend of collecting between RM30mil and RM40mil in revenue a month continued, the target would be achieved by year’s end.
“At the same time, the state has spent RM435.7mil, of which RM257.7mil was for administration and RM178mil for development.
“Over half of the administration’s expenditure of RM149mil was for the payment of salaries and emoluments while 81.69% of the development expenditure has been allocated for water-related projects,” he said.
Adnan said for next year, both the expenditure for administration and development would be higher than the expected increase in revenue.
”Although the state’s revenue is projected to increase by RM17.53mil to a total of RM479.39mil, the expenditure for administration alone is expected to go up by RM21.44mil,” he said, adding that the state aimed to reduce its budget deficit and find ways of increasing revenue by venturing into new sectors – such as water royalties and mining – as well as cutting down on spending without jeopardising the quality of services.
Adnan said the state had allocated a budget of RM814.37mil for next year, which was a reduction of RM110.91mil from this year.
”As such, I hope all civil servants will be committed in their work and put the people’s interest at heart in line with the higher public expectations,” he said.
On a separate matter, Adnan said 972,839ha of forested land had been gazetted as water catchment areas prohibiting logging activities.
He said the state’s coffers could have stood to gain RM28.1bil from premium and taxes if the gazetted areas had been awarded to loggers.
”I hope Pahang’s willingness to sacrifice for the country by gazetting such a large tract of land will be given serious attention by the Federal Govern- ment.
”If all the gazetted land in Pahang is destroyed, water supply in other states such as Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perak will be affected,” he said, adding that the state would continue to request for RM280mil a year as “gratuity payment” for this sacrifice.
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