Singapore defends Maju Forest, Gillman housing plans amid backlash
What's new: Grace Fu said her ministry has no land-use mandate, while petitions against the projects have topped 57,000 signatures.
Singapore’s government is pressing ahead with plans to build housing at Gillman Barracks and near Maju Forest, even as public opposition grows. In Parliament on Aug. 4, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said both sites are needed to meet housing demand over the next decade, though final plans could still be adjusted after consultations. On Aug. 7, Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu said her ministry does not control land-use planning, which sits with the Ministry of National Development. The proposals, first released by HDB on July 10, have triggered petitions, walks and public dialogues, with more than 57,000 signatures calling for the green spaces to be protected.