S Dhanabalan to chair Temasek-owned entity behind Mandai mega-project

SINGAPORE — Former Cabinet Minister and chairman of state-owned investment company Temasek S Dhanabalan has been appointed chairman of Mandai Safari Park Holdings, which will oversee the concept development of Mandai into a wildlife and nature heritage space.

Mr Dhanabalan — who retired as Temasek chairman in 2013 after 17 years — is currently chairman of Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek.

He heads the board of directors of the Mandai Safari Park Holdings, which consists 10 other directors, including Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) chief executive Mike Barclay, Singapore Tourism Board chief executive Lionel Yeo and marine biologist Leo Tan.

Mr Barclay, the former chief executive of Sentosa Development Corporation who became WRS chief executive on Oct 1, will also serve as executive director of the Mandai Safari Park Holdings.

The latter is wholly owned by Temasek and holds an 88 per cent stake in WRS.

WRS is the holding company of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo.

Plans for a mega-nature attraction in Mandai were first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on a “live” television programme last year.

Early this year, Temasek, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry said Mandai could feature a new “immersive zoo-type experience” in addition to the existing attractions there. The work is set to finish around 2020.

Mr Dhanabalan and the Mandai Safari Park Holdings team have been engaging environmental groups and civil society, according to a statement issued yesterday.

“My recent conversations have underscored how passionate and committed people in Singapore are towards conservation today.

“I see the new Mandai as a space to inspire and educate people of all ages in environmental conservation,” he said.

Findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment for Mandai — conducted by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and other agencies — are likely to be shared in the second quarter of next year.

The assessment was commissioned in March, and detailed biodiversity and physical data are being collected, said Mandai Safari Park Holdings. It will explore and incorporate sustainable solutions in the development of Mandai, which will cover about 120ha.

Ideas for Mandai include the possible relocation of Jurong Bird Park to the precinct.

A concept video that was released early this year depicted a “zoo in the air” with aerial walkways weaving through a forest, a waterfall cavern for boat rides and a walkway for wildlife crossings. WRS is also looking to use the development as a research platform.