Money spent on YOG was not wasted, says Vivian
Local firms benefited as 70% of budget went to those providing services for the sporting event
By Ong Hwee Hwee & Amresh Gunasingham
DR VIVIAN Balakrishnan yesterday defended the money spent on the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), saying that his ministry did not 'overspend, waste or squander' taxpayers' money.
In a rally speech, he disclosed how he went to see Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after he realised that actual spending would exceed the original estimate of $104 million three times over. A decision was made to cap spending at $387 million and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports - which he oversaw - ended up spending less than that.
Dr Balakrishnan was hitting back at criticism from the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) which has seized on the issue. The party has accused him of mismanaging the event held last August and challenged him to an open debate on the issue, which he has turned down.
The SDP is fielding its 'A' team to fight the People's Action Party's four-member team led by Dr Balakrishnan in Holland- Bukit Timah GRC.
Dr Balakrishnan had admitted in Parliament in September last year that his ministry got the initial estimates for YOG wrong. Yesterday was the first time he addressed the issue at a rally.
Speaking to supporters at an open field in Clementi, he talked about his recent encounter with undergraduate Thaddeaus Wee, who had quizzed him on the YOG budget.
Recounting what he told the young man, he explained that his ministry had underestimated the budget because it was the world's first-ever Youth Olympic Games and details were firmed up after Singapore submitted the bid.
He recounted how he went to see Mr Lee with the new estimates to seek for approval.
'He looked at me and he said: 'If you had known in November 2007 that the Youth Olympic Games will cost more than $300 million would you still have bid for it?' And I told him I would have bid for it even if I knew that price tag because it will make a big difference for young Singaporeans.'
Dr Balakrishnan reiterated how local companies benefited because 70 per cent of the YOG budget went to those providing services for the sporting event.
Singapore athletes also did the country proud, he said, by winning two silver and five bronze medals against world-class competition.
'But of course there are others who are entitled to their own opinions about whether or not it was a success,' he said. 'But I want to make this point that we did not overspend or waste or squander money which was properly budgeted for these Games.'
In his speech, he also reached out to young voters, sharing with the audience 'lessons young Singaporeans have taught me' - respect, fairness and opportunities.
Respect, he said, means listening to their concerns, hopes and fears. Fairness, he said, is to make sure that every Singaporean has a fair chance.
For example, the Government has made sure that every child, regardless of how poor his family is, has access to the best education possible.
The Government, he said, also needs to make sure that the younger generation has different choices and opportunities both in school and at work.
That is why he disagreed with the SDP's plan to phase out manufacturing as 'there are young Singaporeans of the future who will be good at manufacturing, in the same way that there will be others who will be good at services or business entrepreneurship'.
The other PAP candidates for the GRC also spoke at the rally, the second for the Holland-Bukit Timah team.
Incumbent Christopher de Souza hit out at the SDP's proposal to separate the unions from the Government, arguing that it would jeopardise the concerted efforts to create jobs.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa talked about how the SDP's plan to phase out manufacturing could cause irreversible damage to Singapore's manufacturing capability, while newcomer Sim Ann spoke on cultivating 'community spirit' among Singaporeans.
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Local firms benefited as 70% of budget went to those providing services for the sporting event
By Ong Hwee Hwee & Amresh Gunasingham
DR VIVIAN Balakrishnan yesterday defended the money spent on the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), saying that his ministry did not 'overspend, waste or squander' taxpayers' money.
In a rally speech, he disclosed how he went to see Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after he realised that actual spending would exceed the original estimate of $104 million three times over. A decision was made to cap spending at $387 million and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports - which he oversaw - ended up spending less than that.
Dr Balakrishnan was hitting back at criticism from the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) which has seized on the issue. The party has accused him of mismanaging the event held last August and challenged him to an open debate on the issue, which he has turned down.
The SDP is fielding its 'A' team to fight the People's Action Party's four-member team led by Dr Balakrishnan in Holland- Bukit Timah GRC.
Dr Balakrishnan had admitted in Parliament in September last year that his ministry got the initial estimates for YOG wrong. Yesterday was the first time he addressed the issue at a rally.
Speaking to supporters at an open field in Clementi, he talked about his recent encounter with undergraduate Thaddeaus Wee, who had quizzed him on the YOG budget.
Recounting what he told the young man, he explained that his ministry had underestimated the budget because it was the world's first-ever Youth Olympic Games and details were firmed up after Singapore submitted the bid.
He recounted how he went to see Mr Lee with the new estimates to seek for approval.
'He looked at me and he said: 'If you had known in November 2007 that the Youth Olympic Games will cost more than $300 million would you still have bid for it?' And I told him I would have bid for it even if I knew that price tag because it will make a big difference for young Singaporeans.'
Dr Balakrishnan reiterated how local companies benefited because 70 per cent of the YOG budget went to those providing services for the sporting event.
Singapore athletes also did the country proud, he said, by winning two silver and five bronze medals against world-class competition.
'But of course there are others who are entitled to their own opinions about whether or not it was a success,' he said. 'But I want to make this point that we did not overspend or waste or squander money which was properly budgeted for these Games.'
In his speech, he also reached out to young voters, sharing with the audience 'lessons young Singaporeans have taught me' - respect, fairness and opportunities.
Respect, he said, means listening to their concerns, hopes and fears. Fairness, he said, is to make sure that every Singaporean has a fair chance.
For example, the Government has made sure that every child, regardless of how poor his family is, has access to the best education possible.
The Government, he said, also needs to make sure that the younger generation has different choices and opportunities both in school and at work.
That is why he disagreed with the SDP's plan to phase out manufacturing as 'there are young Singaporeans of the future who will be good at manufacturing, in the same way that there will be others who will be good at services or business entrepreneurship'.
The other PAP candidates for the GRC also spoke at the rally, the second for the Holland-Bukit Timah team.
Incumbent Christopher de Souza hit out at the SDP's proposal to separate the unions from the Government, arguing that it would jeopardise the concerted efforts to create jobs.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa talked about how the SDP's plan to phase out manufacturing could cause irreversible damage to Singapore's manufacturing capability, while newcomer Sim Ann spoke on cultivating 'community spirit' among Singaporeans.
[email protected]
[email protected]
