DR VIVIAN Balakrishnan gave a stout defence of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) budget on Wednesday night, saying that his ministry did not overspend, waste or squander away taxpayers' money.
He said the the Games exceeded its original budget of $104 million three times over because it was the first time that such an event was organised, and details were firmed up only after the bid was submitted.
Speaking at a rally in Clementi for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, where he is helming the People's Action Party team, he also reiterated that 70 per cent of the budget went to paying local companies for providing services for the Games.
It is the first time that Dr Balakrishnan, who heads the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), has publicly addressed the issue at the rallies.
The opposition Singapore Democratic Party, which is contesting in the GRC, has attacked him on the YOG budget and challenged him to a debate which he has declined.
In his rally address, Dr Balakrishnan also reached out to young voters, sharing with the crowd the lessons he has gained from this group of Singaporeans.
He said the the Games exceeded its original budget of $104 million three times over because it was the first time that such an event was organised, and details were firmed up only after the bid was submitted.
Speaking at a rally in Clementi for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, where he is helming the People's Action Party team, he also reiterated that 70 per cent of the budget went to paying local companies for providing services for the Games.
It is the first time that Dr Balakrishnan, who heads the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), has publicly addressed the issue at the rallies.
The opposition Singapore Democratic Party, which is contesting in the GRC, has attacked him on the YOG budget and challenged him to a debate which he has declined.
