The parent company of the firm which recently made headlines due to its plans to build a Chinese temple with columbarium services in Sengkang said the tender process for the site was transparent and open.
“Life Corporation provided all information required and requested in accordance with tender conditions,” it said in a filing with the Australian Securities Exchange.
The proposed columbarium irked some future residents of a nearby housing development, so much so that they requested HDB for a refund on their flat.
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament last week that HDB awarded the tender to Eternal Pure Land under the assumption “that the company (was) a vehicle for a religious organisation to build and own a Chinese temple.”
Khaw noted HDB officers made wrong assumptions when it awarded the site to Eternal Pure Land, which was the highest bidder.
With this, the government will embark on a review of its land-tender process for places of worship. It will also ensure the Chinese temple will be built as originally planned.
Meanwhile, Life Corporation revealed it has made preliminary plans on the operation of the temple.
The company said it understands public sentiment that ownership of said land development should be held by a non-profit religious organisation.
“It has always been (the company’s) intention that the temple component of the development … be headed by religious individuals,” said Life Corporation.
It added it is “sensitive to recent public and government comments” and is currently discussing with the government on achieving a mutually satisfactory and viable solution.
Image: Site plan for Chinese temple with columbarium services (Source: HDB)
Muneerah Bee, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email muneerah@propertyguru.com.sg
