SINGAPORE - The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) pushed for it and now has an answer: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (picture), anchor minister for Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC), sees "no need" for a public debate with the Opposition party for the coming elections.
The SDP, which intends to contest the constituency and the two single wards of Bukit Panjang and Yuhua, had asked on Saturday for a debate on national and local issues with the ruling People's Action Party's team in the GRC.
The Opposition party then issued on Monday a formal invitation to Dr Balakrishnan, who is Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister, and extended it to Bukit Panjang's incumbent Member of Parliament Teo Ho Pin.
Referring to Dr Balakrishnan's earlier comments about his team's track record and how they do not make "empty promises", SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said: "Then you'd have no hesitation in accepting the SDP's invitation for a public debate before voters ... The people can only be the judge if they hear both sides of the story."
The three topics the SDP wants to debate: The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) budget; Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council's S$8-million investment in toxic structured products in 2008; and "the buy-over of the Fajar wet market in Bukit Panjang by Sheng Siong, which caused rentals and prices to increase".
"In return, we'd be happy to answer questions that you might want to pose to us about our Promise," Dr Chee said in reference to the SDP's 10 campaign promises.
In an email reply to MediaCorp yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said he sees "no need for any debate with the SDP".
He added: "The residents of Holland-Bukit Timah know our track record and have co-created our plans for the future. Our priority now is to continue to meet as many residents as possible, listen sincerely and work hard to win their support. Let the people decide."
As for the S$8 million sunk into troubled investments, Dr Balakrishnan said the town council's finances are already a matter of public record.
Meanwhile, Dr Teo, who is also North West District Mayor, said there was "nothing to debate about" regarding the Fajar wet market sale to Sheng Shiong, which hiked stall rentals by 30 per cent last year after taking over five wet markets in total.
Dr Teo said rentals and prices are dependent on demand and supply and that his recent visits to the Fajar wet market have found both stallholders and residents "satisfied with the present arrangements".
"What needs to be done is to engage all stakeholders to ensure that the market can serve our residents well," Dr Teo told MediaCorp. He added that a new wet market and food centre to be built in the area will increase choices for residents.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports had responded previously to the SDP's criticism of the YOG. The ministry said the budget, which was three times the initial estimates, did not affect other spending such as on the needy and that "all errors were detected early, rectified promptly and communicated openly". It also noted that the final spending on YOG was less than 10 per cent of the most recent Summer Olympics, although it was one-third the size of the latter.
The SDP, which intends to contest the constituency and the two single wards of Bukit Panjang and Yuhua, had asked on Saturday for a debate on national and local issues with the ruling People's Action Party's team in the GRC.
The Opposition party then issued on Monday a formal invitation to Dr Balakrishnan, who is Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister, and extended it to Bukit Panjang's incumbent Member of Parliament Teo Ho Pin.
Referring to Dr Balakrishnan's earlier comments about his team's track record and how they do not make "empty promises", SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said: "Then you'd have no hesitation in accepting the SDP's invitation for a public debate before voters ... The people can only be the judge if they hear both sides of the story."
The three topics the SDP wants to debate: The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) budget; Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council's S$8-million investment in toxic structured products in 2008; and "the buy-over of the Fajar wet market in Bukit Panjang by Sheng Siong, which caused rentals and prices to increase".
"In return, we'd be happy to answer questions that you might want to pose to us about our Promise," Dr Chee said in reference to the SDP's 10 campaign promises.
In an email reply to MediaCorp yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said he sees "no need for any debate with the SDP".
He added: "The residents of Holland-Bukit Timah know our track record and have co-created our plans for the future. Our priority now is to continue to meet as many residents as possible, listen sincerely and work hard to win their support. Let the people decide."
As for the S$8 million sunk into troubled investments, Dr Balakrishnan said the town council's finances are already a matter of public record.
Meanwhile, Dr Teo, who is also North West District Mayor, said there was "nothing to debate about" regarding the Fajar wet market sale to Sheng Shiong, which hiked stall rentals by 30 per cent last year after taking over five wet markets in total.
Dr Teo said rentals and prices are dependent on demand and supply and that his recent visits to the Fajar wet market have found both stallholders and residents "satisfied with the present arrangements".
"What needs to be done is to engage all stakeholders to ensure that the market can serve our residents well," Dr Teo told MediaCorp. He added that a new wet market and food centre to be built in the area will increase choices for residents.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports had responded previously to the SDP's criticism of the YOG. The ministry said the budget, which was three times the initial estimates, did not affect other spending such as on the needy and that "all errors were detected early, rectified promptly and communicated openly". It also noted that the final spending on YOG was less than 10 per cent of the most recent Summer Olympics, although it was one-third the size of the latter.
