# More than 1,000 rally at Hong Lim Park over Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks plans

- **Source:** Channel NewsAsia
- **Published:** 2026-08-16T12:44:00.000Z
- **Author:** Koh Wan Ting
- **Original:** https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sg-climate-rally-hong-lim-park-maju-forest-gillman-barracks-6322031
- **Topics:** Government & Policy, Sustainability & PropTech

## Featured rationale

The revisions signal stronger environmental constraints on residential development and could reduce future housing supply at both sites, although the final scale remains unannounced.

## AI summary

The government will retain more greenery at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, reducing planned housing numbers, after more than 1,000 people rallied over the developments.

## Original article

SINGAPORE: More than 1,000 people took to Hong Lim Park on Sunday (Aug 16) to voice concerns over plans to develop Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks , days after the government said it would retain more greenery in response to public feedback . The participants, many decked in green and red, called for nature areas to be protected at the Maju for the People rally, organised by advocacy group SG Climate Rally. Amid the late afternoon heat, activists sat on picnic mats and held up placards bearing messages such as "Forests are our family" and "Destroying forests is not maju" – a play on the Malay word "maju", which means progressive. Based on aerial shots of the crowd, CNA estimated the turnout at more than 1,000. The three-hour programme, which started at 3.30pm, included activities such as postcard writing, as well as speeches and sing-alongs by environmental advocates with backgrounds in ecology, economics and education, among others. Ms Aznikah Nizar, 28, hoped the rally would spur the authorities to consider how the development plans could be reorganised without clearing the forest. "It's not too late because they haven't started clearing the forest yet," said the private tutor. "My worry is that they do take feedback into account but still push through anyway. Because I think this is unlike other things, this is something that's really irreversible. "Once the forests are gone, they are just gone." Participants also raised broader questions about the loss of forests and natural spaces, access to nature and public participation in decisions over land use and access to information.

WEEKS OF DEBATE The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced on Jul 10 that Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks would be developed for housing, following the completion of environmental and heritage studies. The plans would clear about 15ha of Maju Forest and at least 10ha of forest at Gillman Barracks, prompting concerns from residents and nature groups over the potential loss of biodiversity and ecological connectivity. The matter has since been discussed in parliament , and the government has held engagement sessions with involved parties to gather feedback. On Friday, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said the plans would be adjusted to retain more greenery at both sites. He added that this means fewer homes would be built, though the authorities have yet to announce how much additional greenery will be retained. Under the initial plans, 40 per cent of green spaces at Gillman Barracks and 35 per cent at Maju Forest were to be retained, including forest streams and ecological connections to surrounding green spaces. Mr Tan said the government was still receiving feedback and aimed to finalise the plans over the coming month. HDB and the Ministry of National Development said they would publish a report summarising the feedback received and the agencies' responses before finalising detailed development plans.

PARTICIPANTS SPEAK UP Full-time national serviceman Luo Kai Yi felt there was room for more nuance in the debate. "The conversation doesn't need to be so either-or. I think there's a lot of space for nuance and different possibilities," said the 21-year-old, who added that he hoped public discussions could take place at an earlier stage of the planning process in future. Several opposition politicians were also at the rally, including five Workers' Party members: Mr Dennis Tan, Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Ms Eileen Chong, Mr Kenneth Tiong and Mr Fadli Fawzi. Progress Singapore Party members were also present, including secretary-general Mr Leong Mun Wai, along with Singapore Democratic Party chairman Dr Paul Tambyah.

Hougang MP Dennis Tan told CNA that he and his colleagues were at the rally to show their support for Singaporeans who had spoken up on the issue. "Many Singaporeans ... have spoken up on their views regarding the proposed redevelopment plans for Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, and I and my colleagues are really heartened by how Singaporeans are passionate about preserving our very few green spaces left," Mr Tan said. "There are lots more questions to ask and we hope that the government will continue to review its way of consulting Singaporeans ahead of having any redevelopment plans in our limited green spaces." Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, who is an MP for Sengkang, said it was clear that Singaporeans understood the issue ultimately involved trade-offs. "But I don't think that's the debate that Singaporeans are actually interested in having, what they are interested in having is to understand the nature of the trade-offs."

Artist Terence Tan, 45, attended the rally with his wife and young daughter. He said being a father had shaped how he viewed the issue, as the concerns being raised by young people today could one day be those of his daughter and her generation. He added that he hoped his daughter would continue living in Singapore, and that he wanted to better understand and support the concerns younger Singaporeans had about climate change and the loss of green spaces. "There's a certain sentiment that is a bit absent in the conversation now ... The equation is very pragmatic as opposed to understanding the sentiment of the youth, which is that they are afraid of global warming, they are going to inherit a planet that is heating up," he said.

In a statement after the event, SG Climate Rally said it was heartened by the turnout and that it will continue advocacy efforts with residents. The group called for the developments at the sites to be paused until the government provides more details on the need for housing in the areas and its consideration of alternative sites. It also sought broader changes, including stronger safeguards for nature spaces, mandatory environmental impact assessments before sites are earmarked for development and more inclusive public participation in decisions.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: openai_codex_cli

### 超过1,000人在芳林公园就Maju Forest、Gillman Barracks规划举行集会

在政府表示会在两个地点保留更多绿地数日后，参与者呼吁土地使用决策提高透明度，并表达对绿地流失的担忧。

新加坡：周日（Aug 16），超过1,000人前往芳林公园，就开发Maju Forest和Gillman Barracks的计划表达担忧；数日前，政府表示将回应公众反馈，在两地保留更多绿地。许多身穿绿色和红色服装的参与者，在倡议组织SG Climate Rally举办的Maju for the People集会上呼吁保护自然区域。午后炎热天气中，活动人士坐在野餐垫上，举起写有“Forests are our family”和“Destroying forests is not maju”等信息的标语牌，后者借用了马来语“maju”一词，意为进步。根据人群航拍画面，CNA估计出席人数超过1,000人。这场三小时的活动于下午3.30开始，包括写明信片等活动，以及来自生态学、经济学和教育等背景的环保倡议者发表演讲和带领合唱。28岁的Aznikah Nizar女士希望这场集会能促使当局考虑如何在不清除森林的情况下重组开发计划。“现在还不晚，因为他们还没有开始清除森林，”这名私人补习老师说。“我担心的是，他们确实会把反馈纳入考虑，但仍然照样推进。因为我认为这和其他事情不同，这是真正不可逆的事情。”“一旦森林消失，它们就真的消失了。”参与者也提出了更广泛的问题，包括森林和自然空间的流失、接触自然的机会，以及公众参与土地使用和获取信息相关决策。

数周辩论 建屋发展局（HDB）于Jul 10宣布，在完成环境和文物研究后，Sunset Way和Gillman Barracks将被开发用于住房。这些计划将清除Maju Forest约15ha森林，以及Gillman Barracks至少10ha森林，引发居民和自然团体对生物多样性和生态连通性潜在损失的担忧。此事随后已在国会讨论，政府也与相关各方举行了参与交流会以收集反馈。周五，国家发展部政务部长Alvin Tan表示，计划将作出调整，以在两个地点保留更多绿地。他补充说，这意味着将建造较少住房，不过当局尚未宣布将保留多少额外绿地。根据初步计划，Gillman Barracks将保留40%的绿地，Maju Forest将保留35%的绿地，包括森林溪流以及通往周边绿地的生态连接。Tan先生表示，政府仍在接收反馈，并计划在未来一个月内敲定计划。HDB和国家发展部表示，他们将在敲定详细开发计划前，发布一份报告，总结收到的反馈及各机构的回应。

参与者发声 全职国民服役人员Luo Kai Yi认为，这场辩论仍有更多细致讨论的空间。“这场对话不需要这么非此即彼。我认为有很多空间可以容纳细微差别和不同可能性，”这名21岁青年说，并补充说，他希望未来公众讨论能在规划流程更早阶段举行。几名反对党政治人物也出席了集会，包括五名工人党成员：Dennis Tan先生、副教授Jamus Lim、Eileen Chong女士、Kenneth Tiong先生和Fadli Fawzi先生。新加坡前进党成员也到场，包括秘书长Leong Mun Wai先生，以及新加坡民主党主席Paul Tambyah博士。

Hougang议员Dennis Tan告诉CNA，他和同事们参加集会，是为了支持就此议题发声的新加坡人。“许多新加坡人……已经就Maju Forest和Gillman Barracks拟议重建计划表达了他们的看法，我和我的同事们真的很欣慰看到新加坡人热心保护我们所剩不多的绿地，”Tan先生说。“还有更多问题需要提出，我们希望政府在我们有限的绿地有任何重建计划前，继续检讨其咨询新加坡人的方式。”Sengkang议员Jamus Lim副教授表示，很明显，新加坡人明白这个问题最终涉及取舍。“但我不认为这才是新加坡人真正有兴趣进行的辩论，他们真正有兴趣的是了解这些取舍的性质。”

45岁的艺术家Terence Tan与妻子和年幼女儿一起参加了集会。他说，作为父亲的身份塑造了他看待这个问题的方式，因为今天年轻人提出的担忧，有一天可能会成为他女儿及其同代人的担忧。他补充说，他希望女儿继续在新加坡生活，并希望更好地理解和支持年轻新加坡人对气候变化和绿地流失的担忧。“现在的对话中有某种情感有点缺失……这个等式非常务实，而不是去理解年轻人的情绪，也就是他们害怕全球变暖，他们将继承一个正在升温的星球，”他说。

活动结束后，SG Climate Rally在一份声明中表示，出席人数令其感到鼓舞，并将继续与居民开展倡议工作。该组织呼吁暂停这些地点的开发，直到政府就这些地区住房需求以及其对替代地点的考虑提供更多细节。它还寻求更广泛的改变，包括为自然空间提供更强保障、在地点被划定用于开发前强制进行环境影响评估，以及在决策中实现更具包容性的公众参与。