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KJ: Lower budget won't affect 2017 SEA Games, Asean Para Games

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is optimistic the 29th SEA Games and the 9th Asean Para Games next year will be the best ever held in the region.

Khairy said despite a lower allocation of RM450 million, the biennial games would not be affected and would instead proceed smoothly.

"We need to host the games with the amount of funds approved. This a challenge for us, all ministries face the same challenge. The allocation is RM450 million and not RM500 million.

"We need to be more thrifty, I am confident we will hold the best event in the history of SEA Games but I need to cut a few things but its still a great show," he said after opening the National Rugby Development Programme at Rugby B Field, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur

Khairy said his ministry understand the government was a bit hard pressed on the issue of revenue at the moment.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak when tabling Budget 2017 at Dewan Rakyat yesterday announced an allocation of RM450 million for the 2017 SEA Games and Asean Para Games.

The sum was part of the RM1.2 billion for the development of sports in the country next year.

At the function today, Khairy announced his ministry had allocated RM2 million for the National Rugby Development Programme (NRDP) for one year.

"We are providing RM2 million for a start and it is for cash expenditure.

This programme is like NFDP (National Football Development Programme). The amount included fees for participating in championships and other matters."

The NRDP is a strategic plan with its vision to make Malaysia as the number one rugby country in Asia in five years which included cultivating a rugby sports culture at school and university levels.

On the construction of a rugby stadium, Khairy said the ministry was still looking for a suitable site in Putrajaya.

"I do not forget the pledge on the stadium but now it is an issue of a site in Putrajaya. We are still negotiating with Putrajaya Corporation," he said.

- Bernama

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