Perak expects surplus despite RM95.5 million deficit projection
Revenue collection has reached RM1.1 billion and remains on course for the RM1.48 billion target, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said.
Perak expects to end the year with a surplus rather than the projected RM95.5 million deficit, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said. If achieved, it would be the state's fifth consecutive annual surplus.
Saarani attributed the fiscal outlook to prudent treasury management. He was speaking in Kuala Kangsar on Nov 15 at a ceremony marking the Sultan of Perak's 70th birthday.
He said Perak's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 5.7% to RM91.5 billion last year, while manufacturing recorded 15.2% growth in 2025. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in 2025 from 4.8% in 2021, and employed residents numbered 1.2 million in the second quarter of 2026.
On development funding, Saarani said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had approved seven of Perak's 10 development aspirations under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Projects include an education complex in Sitiawan, a cardiothoracic surgery facility at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital and flood mitigation works at Sungai Sepetang.
Budget 2027 also included two state growth nodes: the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim and the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC), he said. Saarani linked Proton's production centralisation at AHTV to an increase in its workforce, from 1,500 people in 2021 to 7,400 people.
Separately, Saarani said the allocation for the Pasar Sejahtera Rakyat Perak programme had risen to RM3.2 million to help ease living costs. By September, 132 programmes had benefited more than 28,000 people.
