BUILDING OF MOSQUE AT SENGKANG

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ahmad Mohd Magad -

Mr Ahmad Mohd Magad: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) whether the choice of the site identified for building a mosque at Sengkang East Road is final; and if not, (b) whether there are other alternative sites in Sengkang Estate being considered.

Mr Charles Chong: Question No. 12.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee) (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, we have planned for a site at the junction of Sengkang East Road and Compassvale Bow to build a mosque to serve the residents of Sengkang Town. The site was chosen in consultation with MUIS and other agencies. The site will form part of a cluster of civic and community institution uses such as recreational and social facilities. The mosque is also quite close to the Buangkok MRT station and within walking distance from an LRT station which will provide easy access for worshippers.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Can I seek clarification with regard to the actual site because there were two sites that were mentioned, one near Block 205 and the other along the Sengkang East Road? So I am not sure, because both are near the same road. So which site is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary referring to?

Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the site is at the junction of Sengkang East Road and Compassvale Bow.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng: Can I take it that the Senior Parliamentary Secretary is referring to the site that was last proposed by URA and sent to the HDB's Planning Department for approval? In other words, it was not the original site near Block 205, but it was a reassigned site which URA had put up. I just want to seek confirmation that that is so.

Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Arising from the draft Master Plan of 2003, this new site has been selected. So it is a new site.