Recent remarks of Ye Huixian, a deputy to the National People's Congress, have caused intense online discussion, jcrb.com reported.

Ye said that more than 40 TV shows were made for Spring Festival and aired on China's satellite televisions at a cost of 500 million yuan ($79.3 million). The money could have been used to support 167,000 poor children or build 1,250 Hope Primary Schools, he said.

@Du Bin, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said he supports Ye's position that so many TV shows are a waste of money.

@Manlian Yisheng, a netizen, said that Spring Festival TV shows are a tradition for Chinese people, but cost too much and should be limited and supervised.