Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society has been awarded the tender to build a Chinese temple at Fernvale Link in Sengkang, after submitting the highest bid of $6 million, according to the Housing Board.
The site was previously awarded to Eternal Pure Land (EPL) in July 2014. However, the Ministry of National Development (MND) terminated the agreement with EPL after residents objected to the company’s plans to construct a commercial columbarium on the site, reported Channel NewsAsia.
In May, the Ministry announced that it would re-tender the site for its original purpose as a Chinese temple.
Other bidders for the land parcel were the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) and Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple Association, which submitted bids of $4.58 million and $3.88 million respectively. The Peng Hong Association offered a bid of $3.03 million.
Meanwhile, Thye Hua Kwan chairman Lee Kim Siang revealed that the temple will not offer facilities for the urns.
“What we want to do is to spread the moral teachings of filial piety so we would have a Hall of Filial Piety.
“Children can place a tablet of their parents in this hall. They will also have to give us a DVD of the lifetime and the work of the deceased parent or relative. We will design a very comfortable air-conditioned place for the children to view this DVD which will bring back fond memories of their ancestors or friends and will keep alive their filial piety to their departed parents or relatives,” said Lee.
“At the same time, grandchildren or other relatives can also come to view the DVD which is kept at this hall. In this way, people will always remember their departed parents or relatives.”
Lee added that the building will comply with requirements on the tender documents as well as URA rules and regulations.
Image: Map showing location of the Chinese temple site.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
