The Youth and Sports Ministry is cutting costs by making sure that every cent spent will add value and get high returns, said its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Although no cost reduction targets have been set, Khairy said he had asked ministry secretary-general Datuk Jamil Salleh to itemise each expense in the quest to become a model ministry practising prudent spending.

Describing it as a tall order, Khairy said he was confident of upholding the ministry's reputation, integrity and accountability.

"We have to go though every single item to make sure that we get best value for the money. While we continue with big programmes, we will spend less. It is going to be a tough job but we can do it," he told reporters after attending a forum on integrity organised by the Inland Revenue Board, here, Wednesday.

Khairy said the ministry's budget would remain unchanged but spending cuts were initiated by reducing electricity bills by five to ten per cent.

On the proposed scheduled tax cuts for footballers, he said the matter would be discussed with the Football Association of Malaysia.