RELOCATION OF CREMATORIUMS

Mr Leong Horn Kee asked the Minister for the Environment whether his Ministry intends to relocate crematoriums to less populated areas; and, if so, whether it plans to move the crematorium at Bright Hill Drive to a rural location.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: There are four crematoria in Singapore located as follows:

(a) Mount Vernon Crematorium Complex;

(b) Mandai Crematorium Complex;

(c) Phor Kark See (Bright Hill) Temple;

(d) Tse Tho Aum Temple.

The Mount Vernon Crematorium Complex at Upper Aljunied Road is owned and managed by the Ministry of the Environment. The Mandai Crematorium Complex was constructed by the HDB for the cremation of exhumed remains from cemeteries which have been acquired by the HDB for redevelopment purposes.

The crematoria at Phor Kark See Temple at Bright Hill Drive and Tse Tho Aum Temple at Sin Ming Drive are run by the respective temple authorities.

The Ministry of the Environment does not decide on the location of private crematoria. Such matters come under the Ministry of National Development and it has not received any proposal for the relocation of any private crematorium.