Media Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham in Ipoh on Thursday, 29^th July 2010:

Perak facing highest deficit under BN rule

Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) government had presented a deficit budget of RM39,998,870 for 2008. It had also presented deficit budgets for many years prior to 2008.

When Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took over the administration of the Perak Government, it collected an additional revenue of RM103 million without increasing any form of tax or charges on the people. Therefore, there was a surplus amount of about RM63 million for the year 2008.

Pakatan Rakyat when presenting the 2009 budget at the end of 2008, has no knowledge yet that it will be collecting an additional sum of RM103 million for 2008. So, PR being prudent, presented a budget with a reduced deficit of RM25 million.

In view of the increased in revenue in 2008, PR believes that had it been given the opportunity to continue to administer Perak it would also have been a surplus for the year 2009.

Unfortunately, we see BN undemocratically grabbed power in Perak on 6/2/2009. Perak under BN continued to be a year in deficit for 2009.

BN had again presented a deficit budget for 2010 with a deficit of RM23,890,000. As expected with its corrupt and non transparent administration, BN Perak State administration chalked up additional expenditure. It has now asked the State Assembly sitting on 3-8-2010 to approve another RM80 million for its administration.

In the circumstances, BN Perak State Government is expected to register RM103,890,000 in deficit for 2010 which is the highest in the history of Perak.

BN Perak Government is paying and giving benefits to Dato' Chan Ko Youn, Dato' Veerasingham, Dato' Hamdi Bin Abu Bakar for holding posts without a job. Why does the government need to pay Dato' Chan Ko Youn and Dato' Veerasingham as state advisors with Exco pay and benefits? Is Dato' Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir the BN Menteri Besar admitting that he is not competent to government the State or is he just trying to benefit BN candidates who have lost in elections? These are public funds and not his personal money.

BN Perak State Government has announced giving RM50,000 to each MCA division. We believe secretly it is also doing so for UMNO divisions.

Zambry has spent huge amount of State money to put up thousands of posters to promote himself.

Perak BN government also wasted State fund to promote itself by advertising in the media and sending 'Teachers' Day' cards to every teacher.

The public demands that BN stop wasting public funds. Public funds are meant for the public and not to promote BN or Zambry.

PR once again calls for open tender of government projects which will save Perak State Government money and also open tender of awarding timber concessions which has proven to bring in huge increase of revenue to the State Government.

I call on the Dato' Seri Zambry to itemize what the proposed to use the additional RM80 Million for. The people has the right to know the details to avoid it going to dubious projects.

* Ngeh Koo Ham, DAP Deputy Secretary General & MP for Beruas