Budget: Kedah's wish list was never listed – Sanusi

ALOR SETAR - Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claims the Kedah wish list given to the unity government was never listed in the previous budget.

He said the list represented the state’s request through an engagement session between the state government and the Finance Ministry was simply a formality.

Sanusi added the engagement session for Budget 2024 had yet to be held until today even though the tabling would be done on Oct 13.

“Usually, the Federal government through the finance ministry would hold an engagement session with the states. As of now, the meeting between the ministry and state representatives had yet to be done.

“We would usually hand over Kedah’s wish list in the engagement session. However, based on my experience as MB, the involvement was just a formality,” he said.

Sanusi welcomed the engagement session for the benefit of all parties.

“The wish list we gave never made it (in the Federal budget), but it is alright, come and hold an engagement session in Kedah.

"Do not make the session simply to ease the situation. I am not talking bad about them, but it is simply a formality,” he said.

The Kedah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said his response was not an accusation, but rather the previous procedure saw what was requested as difficult to meet even though it was necessary.

“The reason is that the budgets from (Federal) agencies and departments have been made earlier. They have their own budget directors, they are the ones who create the framework for the Federal budget,” he explained.