The state budget was passed after Selangor speaker Ng Suee Lim called for a voice vote among the assemblymen after the bill was read for the third time.

A majority of assemblymen voted for the budget tabled by the Pakatan Harapan government.

Last week, Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said under the budget, a sum of RM1.22 billion, or 53% of the total budget, would be spent on expenditure while the remaining RM1.10 billion (47%) would be spent on development.

He added that the 2021 state budget had taken into account the fact that Selangor was expected to collect RM2.2 billion from land premiums this year.

Up to Oct 29, Amirudin said the state had collected RM1.99 billion from various state taxes.

Last year, Selangor tabled a RM2.33 billion budget.

Earlier today, during the budget’s committee stage debate, state executive councillor for Islamic affairs, consumer affairs and halal industry Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni (PH-Sungai Kandis) said the state Syariah Judiciary Department was seeking RM37.1 million for 2021.

He said that part of the funds would be used to update the e-filing court system that had not been updated for some time.

Haniza Talha (PPBM-Lembah Jaya) then asked if the Syariah Judiciary Department would reduce the cost of filing divorce cases. “I am aware that the divorce cases in shariah courts here are more expensive compared to civil courts,” she said.

In response, Zawawi said he would bring the suggestion to the department for its consideration. He also revealed that throughout the movement control order period since March, the department had received 5,911 divorce applications.

“We will hold relevant programmes with the aim of reducing the number of divorce cases,” he added.