Happened 7 times before
According to the Straits Times news report “Unhappiness over Sengkang temple with columbarium: 7 other cases of residents opposing developments near their homes” (Jan 5) – “There have been other cases of people not wanting certain types of amenities in their neighbourhood – or, as many know it, the not-in-my- backyard (Nimby) syndrome. Here are some past incidents: – “This spin to try to tell Singaporeans that something similar to the “Fernvale columbarium” saga has happened seven times before is totally irrelevant and out of context.
First time lah – as the 7 times were on existing homes
The difference is that the seven examples were all facilities to be built near existing homes. The Fernvale incident is about mis-representation to Singaporeans in the sale of HDB BTO flats before they are built.
Mis-representation of a material fact
If a developer or real estate agent sells a property without disclosing such a material fact – they would have been guilty of mis-representation.
To make things worse – after this was discovered – various parties tried to “play with words” to absolve themselves of the issue – hoping that it would just go away.
The facts:-
The undeniable facts are are follows:-
The brochure did not say anything about “columbarium”.
It only talks about URA guidelines in the fine print.
One would have to go to the URA web site to find the guidelines in order to know about ”columbarium”.
The company which won the bid for the land parcel says in its ACRA activities – “crematorium or funeral parlour services” – but now the MP said “there would not be a crematorium or funeral parlour services at the Chinese temple where the columbarium would be housed.” But the company was also quoted otherwise in the media.
It is a $1 company formed just days before the tender and has no experience whatsoever in operating a temple – and it put in the highest winning bid of $5.2 million.
The MP was quoted as saying that he was powerless to change the situation and the plans for the columbarium.
HDB and URA have also been adamant. Their statement said “approved temples have and are allowed to set aside some space within their buildings for columbarium use,” they told the Today newspaper.
“Spinning” towards 150th Press Freedom ranking
With this kind of “spin” story – is it any wonder that our Press Freedom is 150th in the world?
Win battles lose war
TRS Contributor