Parliament Weighs Plan to Redirect Surplus Budgets to Public Projects

TDT | Manama

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Unused funds left over in government ministries would be redirected towards infrastructure and pensions under a new parliamentary proposal inspired by a visit to Singapore.

MP Basema Mubarak, who is backing the proposal, said the idea took root during a parliamentary trip to Singapore in February.

“We saw how they put unused money to work,” said Basema. “Instead of letting it sit in year-end accounts, why not use it to build and support what’s needed?”

Proposal
The proposal is now being examined by the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee in Parliament. It calls for the creation of a dedicated fund to handle annual surpluses from ministries and public bodies.

The money would go towards development projects and the Pension Fund, with oversight by a panel made up of representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the National Audit Office.

MP Mubarak described the approach as clear and disciplined.

“It gives people confidence that budget leftovers are being used properly, not lost in paperwork,” she said.

The February visit gave MPs a close look at Singapore’s methods for managing public money.

“We moved from observation to implementation,” said MP Mubarak. “It showed us what could be done if there’s a system in place.”

She said the law would improve how funds are handled, reduce reliance on borrowing, and ease pressure on pension systems.

“It’s a practical step that helps meet today’s needs while easing tomorrow’s strain,” the lawmaker said.

State Resources
According to the supporting documents, the law is expected to improve the use of state resources, help stalled projects move forward, and make pension funds more stable.

It would reduce the need for future top-ups from the state budget and lessen uncertainty for retirees.