SINGAPORE - Four applications for the development of a Chinese temple have been submitted for a plot of land at Sengkang, three months after a new tender for it was called.
The first tender for the site at Fernvale Link drew attention early this year when local residents protested against the planned construction of commercial columbarium there.
The latest tender closed on Tuesday.
The bidders for the new tender are the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Singapore, the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple Association and the Taoist Peng Hong Association.
The Peng Hong Association was one of the original bidders for the first tender in May last year, but lost out to a commercial firm.
The 2,000 sq m site was originally awarded to funeral service firm Life Corporation's subsidiary Eternal Pure Land, which planned to run both a Chinese temple and columbarium there.
However, the tender was recalled earlier in May after public complaints that a commercial entity was allowed to bid for and win a piece of land slated for religious development.
When the re-tender was announced in June, new conditions were put in place.
Commercial companies were excluded from the tender and only registered societies, charities and non-profit companies could bid.
The group that secures the tender must continue to be a non-profit religious group, society or charity throughout the entire term of the 30-year lease.
Mr Tan Aik Hock, chairman of the Peng Hong Association, told The Straits Times: "Our plans for the site have not changed; we will not have a columbarium, but will offer free medical consultations."
