National Development Ministry: Tianjin Eco-city progressing “remarkably well”
2010-01-14 from:temasekreview author:
Written by Our Correspondent
In a letter published in the Straits Times Forum today, the Director of the Eco-City Project Office under the Ministry of National Development Mr Ong Beng Lee refuted suggestions in an earlier media report that the joint project with China is becoming another "Suzhou Industrial Park".
Mr Ong revealed that besides the Ministry of National Development (MND) which is the lead agency for the eco-city project, as the focus is on sustainable development and urban solutions, other ministries and agencies, including the ministries of Trade & Industry and Environment & Water Resources, are involved in the project as well.
He added that the eco-city has progressed well and "has attracted over 30 billion yuan (S$6 billion) worth of investments from international and regional developers."
Mr Ong also rapped the Straits Times journalist for not approaching the ministry for clarifications before publishing the article:
"Your correspondent quoted an unnamed Singaporean saying, 'We may have another Suzhou Industrial Park tangle in our hands'. Such a comment is inappropriate. It is not unusual for differences in views for any joint project, especially at an early developmental phase……The report also quoted various unnamed officials. It is regrettable that your correspondent did not formally approach MND or SSTEC for clarifications on the points of concern highlighted."
While it is not "unusual" for differences in views for any joint project, it is highly unusual that so many Singapore ministries and state agencies are directly involved in the Tianjin Eco-City project.
As these government organizations are funded by taxpayers' monies, shouldn't they be spending more time and resources on Singaporeans?
The Ministry of National Development should devote more attention to building quality affordable public housing in Singapore instead of poking its fingers elsewhere, especially in China where Singapore had a bitter experience previously.
The China-Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) was set up in 1994 at the outskirts of the Suzhou City in Jiangsu province with the help of Singapore funds and expertise. Singapore owned a 65% stake in the park.
Even as the park was being constructed, the Suzhou City government set up Suzhou New District Industrial Park (SND) right next to SIP. It was the exact replica of the Singapore model.
As the Suzhou City government had a majority stake in SND, it largely ignored the SIP and concentrated on promoting the SND instead.
After incurring losses of some US$90 million over 5 years, the Singapore consortium lowered its stake to 35 percent, raising the Chinese consortium's stake to 65 percent from 35 percent and reducing the Singaporean share from a planned 70 sq.km. to just 8 sq.km (source: wikipedia)
With no opposition in parliament to check on the ruling party, the Minister of National Development Mah Bow Tan is not required to account to Singaporeans should the Tianjie Eco-City project ended up in failure like another Suzhou.
After all, he is not using his own personal fortune to invest in Tianjin, but that of taxpayers' monies to do so and yet when Singaporeans clamor for more transparency, the government has always declined to reveal more on the ground that it does not serve the "strategic interest" of Singapore.