"No Fight Between Ministers": Government Defends Gillman, Maju Forest Housing Plans

The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) was consulted on plans to develop Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest, with environmental considerations factored into the Government's decision-making process, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said in Parliament on 4 August.

Responding to Workers' Party MP Kenneth Tiong, Tan rejected suggestions that MSE had failed to advocate for the two sites, stressing that decisions are made collectively across ministries.

Tiong had questioned why MSE had not taken a stronger stance to protect the forests, noting that some nature observers were disappointed by what they saw as a lack of leadership from the ministry despite 2026 being designated the Year of Climate Adaptation.

The remarks also prompted Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu to reject suggestions that ministries should adopt opposing positions on the issue.

"If a WP member is hoping for a fight between ministers, I think they will be disappointed," she said, adding that the Government works as a team and that climate adaptation does not change its collective decision-making approach.

Tan said both sites had been identified for residential development through long-term land use planning, adding that Singapore must continue to balance housing demand with environmental and heritage considerations.

Tan added that the Government had assessed surrounding brownfield sites before deciding to develop parts of the vegetated areas, and had already reduced the scale of housing planned at Maju Forest after taking environmental features into account.

He also said that the Government would continue engaging the public and youth groups, and will publish a report summarising public feedback and any amendments made to the original plans.

There has been significant public advocacy to preserve Maju Forest since HDB announced its proposed housing plans on 10 July 2026.

A Change.org petition titled “Save Maju Forest - Build the Homes Without Erasing the Wild" urged the Government to pause forest clearance, prioritise brownfield sites for housing, minimise forest loss where development is unavoidable, and preserve ecological corridors.

Within a week of the housing plans being announced, the petition had garnered more than 17,000 signatures. A separate petition calling for Gillman Barracks to be preserved also attracted thousands of supporters.