Update on Review of Sports Hub Public-Private Partnership Arrangement
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Seah Kian Peng’s inquiry into the review of the Sports Hub public-private partnership (PPP) and its performance effectiveness. Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that while major events have been successfully hosted, there remains room for improvement to fulfill the Hub’s lifestyle vision. Sport Singapore monitors the operator's performance to ensure objectives are met and discusses management continuity with the company, noting that the Chairman is currently acting CEO. The Minister suggested a separate inquiry for substantive learning points from this inaugural PPP project, as high-quality management remains a constant priority for the Government.
Transcript
27 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether she can provide an update on whether there has been a review of the Sports Hub public-private partnership arrangement and whether the Ministry is satisfied with the outcomes of the arrangement thus far.
The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien): Under the Sports Hub, public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, SportsHub Pte Ltd (SHPL) is contracted to design, build, finance and operate the Sports Hub. In recent years, it has hosted sports events such as the Season of Athletics, HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens, and FINA Swimming World Cup. Last month, over 100,000 fans attended the third edition of the International Champion's Cup at the National Stadium. However, like many Singaporeans, we have high expectations of the Sports Hub. There is room for improvement to make the Sports Hub the vibrant, integrated sports and lifestyle destination we envisioned.
Sport Singapore (SportSG) has been in regular communication with SHPL's senior management to monitor the performance of the operator, as well as to ensure that Singapore's goals and objectives of the project are met.
Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade): I thank the Minister for the answers. As an avid sports fan, I am very happy that we have all those major sporting events that are brought to Singapore. I would like to ask the Minister a few things. First, I am sure there are many learning points that the Ministry has acquired as a result of this pilot. Whether she is in the position to share what these learning points are, so that for future PPP projects, this is something which we could all learn from. Secondly, I understand that the Sports Hub's current CEO has left. Is it possible to share an update on the search for the new CEO, because without a CEO – I think with an acting CEO in place – it is obviously not ideal. So, just these two supplementary questions.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: This is the first major PPP that the Government has done and obviously I think, we can all learn from the process, but it will not do justice if I were to just explain or give these learning points out of memory, because this is a very substantive and serious matter. So, if the Member is interested, he may raise a separate Parliamentary Question.
The issue on CEO, I think, like the Member, we too, are very concerned about the continuity in management and also the quality of management. This is an area where we have regular discussions with the company and the shareholders as well. I would like to say that the acting CEO is the Chairman. So, the Chairman has taken it upon himself to be relocated and to take on the CEO role. But continuity and high quality of management are areas of constant discussion between the Government and the company.