Forum writer expresses disappointment at repeated delays in building the sports hub
November 20th, 2009 | 
Author: Written by our correspondent
A Singaporean by the name of Chew Chee Meng had written to the Straits Times Forum to express his disappointment at the repeated delays in building the sports hub.
The Singapore Sports Hub was initially scheduled to be completed next year, but has been postponed to 2013 due to “financing concerns”.
Mr Chew wrote that the delay is unfair to the two unsuccessful bidders as the reason appears to be the Singapore Sports Hub consortium’s failure to secure a bank loan to finance the project.
He asked if the Singapore Sports Hub consortium had made an “unrealistic” bid for the project in the first place.
Mr Chew urged the government to take over the building of the Sports Hub without relying on the private sector as it has the financial clout to do so.
“A mega public project that is repeatedly delayed creates an adverse impression on foreign investors and undermines the confidence in the bidding system.
The Government can certainly afford to build the hub without having to resort to the public-private partnership formula…..
If the Government could afford spending $15 million to host the recent Asian Youth Games, $150 million on the Singapore F1 Grand Prix and $108 million more to host the Youth Olympic Games next year, it does not make sense to repeatedly stymie the start towards building a vital landmark like the Sports Hub.”
Since it was announced in 2005 to build a Sports Hub to replace the aging National Stadium, work has not started on it yet.
In an undated article shelved inside the Singapore Sports Council’s (SSC) online archive, (read article here) it was stated that construction on new Kallang Sports Hub was initially scheduled to begin by February 2008.
Singaporeans were promised a brand-new 55,000-capacity National Stadium, together with an indoor Aquatic Center and a multi-purpose arena and a new Water Sports Centre, all by mid-2011.
In October last year, sources first revealed to the Straits Times that the new completion date was going to be pushed back to 2012.
Earlier in February this year, Minister of State Ms Yu-Foo replied that the project had ran into financial difficulties, but provided no further details and no further disclosure on the amounts of losses already incurred. (read report here)
Last month, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan had said the Sports Hub project is back on track and construction should start by the first quarter of 2010.
The Singapore Sports Hub Consortium claims that it had launched a financing competition to help raise funds for the project, estimated to cost S$1.87 billion.
Though the recession is technically over, economic growth is still sluggish and the Sports Hub will be the last thing on the minds of Singaporeans.
Posted in Editorial
Coz it’s true to character of...
its easy to praise or send bouquets.
It takes more brains to criticise.
well done.
“The Singapore Sports Hub was initially scheduled to be completed next year, but has been postponed to 2013 due to “financing concerns”.”
The clowns deliberately delay it as they will increase GST and other unnecessary hike after next election in 2011 to finance the hub. Instead of using gov’s surplus, they are now waiting to suck the blood of the citizens to finance the hub. Better still, they might also tell if you do not vote for PAP, there will be no Sport Hub.
These kangaroo move is very predictable because kangaroo never change their kangaroo habit.
sports not important now..
don’t you know??
it’s gambling and casino
that is the most important now in singapore
sports for what?
gamble can win money !!
The MIW messed up big time. I believe it is time we took a different direction.
Things started going downhill ever since LHL visited Taiwan and caused so much anger in China. Things have never been the same. If someone drew up a list of the screw ups since then, it would probably be an inch thick.
Sports excellence in my opinion is difficult to achieve in Singapore. We do not have enough people (parents) whom will encourage their children to do sports. There’s no money in it. No million dollar sponsorship for each player. Olympic metals, prize money, will go to imported ‘Singaporeans’.
No banks in their right mind would loan money to the Singapore Sports Hub operator/consortium. Not 1.87 billion. It will be a 1.87 billion white elephant.
Don’t worry be happy!
The minister of CDYS has said that he will not want to spent a cent more than is necessary of Singaporeans’hard earned
money on the Sports Hub by repeatedly delaying the said project.
How kind and considerate of him! By his logic, the longer the delay,the less we will fork out eventually.
Anyone buy this bullshit crap??
Banks are only keen on returns. Regardless of who is taking over, HSBC should hv carried out their due diligence before committing to the Project.
Well, if they r unable to find pple to finance the so called Hub, that would speak volumes of the confidence level of the financial institutes have on Singapore as well as the calibre of those directly involved.
This does not bode well.
.
How come no legal action taken against the developer?
I thought there are penalties for such delays/ breach of contracts?
Why is pap siding with this private consortium?
Shouldn’t the opportunity to develop to sports hub be made available to other developers rather than sticking with a developer that cannot honour its contract?
Why is pap not taking legal action against this consortium to fight for the rights of Singaporeans, considering that there have been lost opportunities/additional costs incurred due to the delay?
and the answer to all questions is…
CORRUPTION
wow when it comes to buildings sports arena….malaysia kicks our butts in this department..ouch…
this is supposed to be the first public/private infrastructure project, yet it has run into difficulty. a bad omen.
nevertheless, it is better to delay than build a white elephant when the demand is simply not enough to fill up the capacity.
Do we need a sports hub? That’s my only question.
it’s Dr Vivian’s pet project isn’t it? what a flop. i thought Dr Vivian was the one the best young minister around.
There is no need of wasting money for a sport’s hub. We can always pay and offer citizenships to people from other countries to play and win for us. With the working life nowadays I am suprised some people still got time for sports. Old guy is right to say nowadays the emphasis it on IRs and casinos and the vision of million of dollars revenue to come.