In his 10th year of service in Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled a total budget of RM1.3 billion for 2018, a decrease of RM0.15 billion from the RM1.45 billion allocated under Budget 2017.

Describing it as “Belanjawan Marhaen" (Budget for the Many), Lim said a deficit budget was unavoidable this year, similar to last year’s RM667.1 million deficit budget.

The budget was tabled in the Penang State Legislative Assembly today. This may be the state’s last sitting pending the 14th general election, which will be due in 2018.

This is Lim’s 10th “deficit” budget since Pakatan Harapan took over Penang in 2008.

Lim had previously explained that the deficit would be supported with the state’s accumulated reserves...