By P PREM KUMAR & DASHVEENJIT KAUR / Pic By ISMAIL CHE RUS

The Economic Affairs Ministry will get RM1.28 billion allocation for the remaining of the year under the Supply (Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2018.

The reallocation of funds will involve 14 ministries of which the Economic Affairs Ministry, helmed by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (picture), will receive the highest allocation.

The bill, which was tabled for first reading earlier this week, and set to be debated next week will include readjustment in ministerial allocations since the Pakatan Harapan government took over in May.

The reallocation will incur the government an additional RM3.06 billion for the services and purposes of restructuring of several ministries, establishment of new ministries — as well as dissolution of one ministry.

“There is a need to reconcile the appropriated expenditure in respect of several ministries, which have been restructured and renamed following the restructuring of their functions.

“Pursuant to Articles 100 and 101 of the Federal Constitution, reallocation of the appropriated expenditure for the purposes involving the restructured and renamed ministries and the new ministries can only be done through a Supply Act,” the bill read.

The bill seeks the Dewan Rakyat approval to provide RM3.06 billion from the Consolidated Fund, on top of the existing allocations granted for the ministries for the entire 2018 under the previous administration.

No justifications were given for the allocation to each ministry. However, the bill is expected to be explained during the finance minister’s winding up of debates next week.

The Entrepreneur Development Ministry, which is also a new ministry under the new government, has been allocated RM76.28 million between May and December 2018.

The Home Affairs Ministry will be allocated RM225.83 million, Treasury RM516 million, Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry and Education Ministry are each given RM190.33 million and RM181.87 million respectively.

The Youth and Sports Ministry is given RM163.7 million, Human Resources Ministry is allocated RM111.2 million while a combined Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry is allocated RM101.87 million.