SINGAPORE: Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, Pritam Singh, has raised concerns regarding the government’s handling of the Eunos Community Club (CC) redevelopment.
In a Facebook post on 23 May, he questioned why an anti-collusion investigation by Singapore’s competition watchdog was not disclosed in a parliamentary reply when he filed a question in January 2025.
In his original Parliamentary Question (PQ) on 7 January, Singh had asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong, to clarify the People’s Association’s (PA) plans for Eunos CC, explain the prolonged closure of the facility, and provide a timeline for its reopening.
Lack of cost details and investigation in earlier reply
In the ministry’s written response, Tong stated that the PA maintains a regular upgrading and cyclical maintenance programme across all CCs.
He confirmed that Eunos CC had been selected for upgrading in 2023 under this initiative.
A tender for the redevelopment was launched in September 2022.
The proposed works included enhancements to existing facilities, partial demolition, and construction of a new four-storey block.
This would have featured a rooftop basketball court and an expanded multi-purpose hall with a new foyer. Consequently, the CC was closed in anticipation of these works, according to Tong.
However, Tong revealed that the submitted tender bids exceeded expectations significantly. He cited elevated construction costs in the post-COVID period and other market factors.
As a result, the PA, after consulting the Grassroots Advisor, decided not to proceed with the full redevelopment.
Instead, essential works would be carried out at a reduced cost, with remaining upgrades deferred.
The revised timeline aimed for reopening by Q4 2025 or early 2026, subject to prevailing conditions.
Singh questions missing information from MCCY’s January reply
Notably, the January 2025 reply did not mention that the CCCS had already launched an investigation into potential collusion in the Eunos CC tender process, nor did it disclose the tender’s estimated value of S$17 million.
Singh pointed out that this figure only became public through a recent media report on 23 May 2025.
In the Facebook post, Singh expressed concern over the omission of the CCCS probe in the government’s response.
He said, “The fact of the Competition Commission’s investigations (which commenced in July 2023) into companies involved in the tender for the Eunos CC was not made known in the parliamentary reply, even as the CNA today indicates that the PA was suspicious about the tender bids.”
He added, “I wonder why this information was not disclosed in the Government’s parliamentary reply.”
Residents seek updates on facilities and reopening timeline
Singh also reiterated concerns frequently raised by Eunos residents, many of whom have long awaited the return of a functioning community hub.
He shared that during house visits, residents regularly ask about the reopening timeline, details of upgraded facilities, and whether there will be a platform for public feedback on desired improvements.
He proposed that the PA enhance communication with residents through the HDB’s digital display panels, located in lift lobbies across the Eunos constituency.
Singh noted that the PA already has access to slots on these panels and could use them to update residents more proactively.
Calls for engagement on future upgrades and Eunos Harmony Hub
Singh offered to collaborate with PA as a community stakeholder to pass on resident feedback regarding desired facilities, including pickleball courts and dance studios.
He noted that a public exhibition or feedback exercise would be “welcomed by residents.”
He added that he is open to providing similar input for the PA’s planned upgrading of the Eunos Harmony Hub, another community facility residents are looking forward to.
Singh further noted that Parliament will not sit in June and urged the PA to provide timely updates to the community in the interim.
CCCS findings reveal structured collusion between firms
On Friday, CCCS announced that Trust-Build Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd (TB) and Hunan Fengtian Construction Group Co., Ltd (HNFT) had been fined a combined total of S$4.6 million for rigging bids in tenders called by the PA.
These included the redevelopment of Eunos, Bukit Batok, and Cheng San Community Clubs, with a total tender value of approximately S$56 million.
The CCCS investigation revealed that HNFT, despite directives from its head office in China not to participate in new tenders, continued to operate in Singapore by preparing and influencing TB’s bids.
HNFT set the bid prices for TB and submitted higher-priced cover bids under its own name to create a false impression of competition.
In the case of Eunos CC, TB submitted a bid of S$19.5 million—exactly matching a price provided by HNFT. HNFT’s own bid was S$895,279 higher.
Regulatory scrutiny underscores importance of transparent procurement
Though the contracts were never awarded, CCCS found that the coordinated conduct breached Section 34 of the Competition Act.
The watchdog emphasised that such actions, even if unsuccessful, severely undermine public procurement integrity.
TB received the heavier penalty of S$4.29 million due to its central role in the scheme, while HNFT was fined S$349,350.
CCCS dismissed arguments that the collusion was unintentional or part of standard collaboration, pointing to WhatsApp messages, emails, and spreadsheets showing detailed coordination between the two firms.
CCCS Chief Executive Alvin Koh stated, “Bid-rigging is one of the most egregious forms of anti-competitive conduct, particularly harmful in public procurement where taxpayer funds are involved.”
The authority reiterated the availability of its leniency programme for companies that self-report collusion, and a whistle-blower reward scheme for individuals, with confidentiality protections in place.
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