# Parliament to discuss Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest housing plans, GovTech layoffs

- **Source:** Channel NewsAsia
- **Published:** 2026-08-03T07:50:09.000Z
- **Author:** Renee Kuek
- **Original:** https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/parliament-gillman-barracks-maju-forest-govtech-layoffs-6294751
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Government & Policy, Sustainability & PropTech

## Featured rationale

The extensive parliamentary scrutiny could influence planning transparency and conservation measures, potentially affecting the eventual footprints and delivery of both housing developments.

## AI summary

Parliament will discuss housing plans requiring possible clearance of about 15ha at Maju Forest and at least 10ha of forest at Gillman Barracks.

## Original article

SINGAPORE: Parliament will discuss planned housing developments in Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest and the recent retrenchments at the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) at its next sitting on Tuesday (Aug 4). More than 20 questions have been filed by Members of Parliament on the two subjects. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced on Jul 10 that it would build new homes at Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way in Clementi following the completion of environmental and heritage studies. About 15ha and at least 10ha of forest may be cleared at Maju Forest at Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks, respectively, to make room for these housing developments. MP Christopher de Souza (PAP-Holland-Bukit Timah) asked whether recommendations from nature and conservation groups on preserving greenery, flora and fauna in Maju Forest can be adopted. MP Rachel Ong (PAP-Tanjong Pagar) wanted to know whether alternative sites for housing were evaluated as alternatives to Gillman Barracks and what planning considerations led to the proposed site and footprint being preferred. MP Dennis Tan (WP-Hougang) asked whether alternative sites to Maju Forest can be considered, and also wanted to know what resident engagement was conducted prior to the Gillman Barracks redevelopment announcement, including whether closed-door discussions were held and how participants were selected. MP Charlene Chen (PAP-Tampines) asked if the Ministry of National Development would provide plain-language summaries of key findings of environmental impact assessments to improve their accessibility. She also wanted to know if there would be clearer explanations of how public feedback has informed planning decisions.

GOVTECH LAYOFFS GovTech announced on Jul 15 that it had retrenched 93 officers, as it completed the first phase of its transition to a new operating model. It expects to let go of about 300 workers over the next two years as it shifts from a "one-off project-delivery model" to a "continuous product-ownership model". MP Louis Chua (WP-Sengkang) wanted to know if the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has information on the ages, seniority levels, roles and identified skills gaps of the 93 officers who were retrenched. He also asked why these officers were not deemed transferable to other agencies. MP Sharael Taha (PAP-Pasir Ris-Changi) wanted to know if MDDI had anticipated GovTech's operating model shift and whether it implemented timely upskilling or career conversion programmes to reduce retrenchments. MP Yip Hon Weng (PAP-Yio Chu Kang) asked if GovTech's move from project delivery to product ownership reflects a broader shift in public-sector technology hiring and what implications such a shift may have for the wider technology workforce.

O-LEVEL ORAL EXAM, FATAL LIGHTNING STRIKE, RTS LINK MPs also filed questions on a Jul 15 incident in the GCE O-Level English oral examination, following complaints on social media alleging that questions displayed on some candidates' screens differed from those shown to oral examiners during the exam. The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said that there was no discrepancy in the examination as the question displayed to candidates was the same as that shown to examiners. MP Jamus Lim (WP-Sengkang) asked what records and evidence were examined, whether affected candidates and examiners were consulted, and what evidence supported its conclusion that no error occurred. MP Hany Soh (PAP-Marsiling-Yew Tee) wanted to know whether any requests for assistance from students or their parents were received by SEAB and, if so, how SEAB has been assisting them. Regarding a fatal lightning strike near Pasir Ris Beach on Jul 6, Mr Sharael asked if the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment will review public warning systems and real-time lightning alerts with relevant agencies to mitigate lightning risks at beaches and outdoor recreational areas. MP Choo Pei Ling (PAP-Chua Chu Kang) asked whether the government has assessed how the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link will reshape cross-border business , which sectors in Singapore will be the most affected, and how the government is supporting Singapore businesses to strengthen their competitiveness and tap into new opportunities. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MPs also raised a variety of questions about the adoption and impact of artificial intelligence in Singapore. Nominated MP Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari asked the Ministry of Manpower for a breakdown by firm size of companies that have adopted AI and their experienced outcomes, such as job redesign, lowered hiring or reduced headcount. Ms Soh wanted to know if the Ministry of Social and Family Development has received any reports of AI-encouraged or AI-related cases of self-harm by teenagers and children in the last three years, and what safeguards are in place to prevent such risks. Ms Soh also asked if the Ministry of Law is aware of instances of AI-fabricated or AI-augmented evidence being tendered before a court of law, and whether judicial staff and officers are sufficiently trained to guard against such cases. MP Saktiandi Supaat (PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh) wanted to know what the principal use cases for AI in the public service are, how many agencies have deployed generative AI systems in their operations, and how the government measures productivity gains, service improvements and risks from such deployments. MP Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee) asked whether the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth has assessed the impact of generative AI on Singapore's arts and creative sectors, and what support is being considered to help artists adapt to generative AI while protecting intellectual property and livelihoods.

WP MOTION The Workers' Party (WP) will also introduce a motion in parliament on Tuesday calling for an "economy of the future" that works for all Singaporeans . Tabled by MP Kenneth Tiong (WP-Aljunied) and Associate Professor Lim, the motion will present the opposition party's vision for such a future and its own "economic playbook". The motion proposes that the House believes "in a more equal and inclusive economy, with opportunities for entrepreneurs to experiment, households and businesses to succeed, workers to thrive, and ideas and innovation to flourish; and in an economic engine driven by dynamic local companies, healthy domestic demand, and Singaporeans and Singaporean capital venturing abroad".

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 国会将讨论吉尔曼军营与马裕森林建屋计划及GovTech裁员事宜

议员已就这两项议题提出逾20项质询，另有关于巴西立海滩附近致命雷击事故，以及人工智能在新加坡的采用与影响等其他问题。

新加坡：国会将在下星期二（8月4日）开会，讨论吉尔曼军营（Gillman Barracks）与马裕森林（Maju Forest）的建屋计划，以及新加坡政府科技局（GovTech）近期的裁员。议员已就这两项议题提出逾20项质询。建屋发展局（HDB）于7月10日宣布，在完成环境与遗产研究后，将在吉尔曼军营及金文泰日落道（Sunset Way）兴建新住宅。为腾出建屋空间，马裕森林（位于日落道）与吉尔曼军营分别或将清除约15公顷及至少10公顷林地。议员克里斯托弗·德索萨（Christopher de Souza，人民行动党－荷兰－武吉知马）询问，自然与保育团体关于在马裕森林保留绿化、动植物的建议能否被采纳。议员王心妍（Rachel Ong，人民行动党－丹戎巴葛）希望了解，当局是否评估过其他建屋地点作为吉尔曼军营的替代方案，以及何种规划考量使拟议选址与占地范围获得优先。议员陈立峰（Dennis Tan，工人党－后港）询问是否可考虑马裕森林以外的替代地点，并希望了解吉尔曼军营重建宣布前进行了哪些居民沟通，包括是否举行闭门讨论及参与者如何被选定。议员陈慧玲（Charlene Chen，人民行动党－淡滨尼）询问国家发展部会否提供环境影响评估关键发现的通俗摘要，以提高其可及性。她也希望了解，当局会否更清楚地说明公众反馈如何影响规划决策。

GOVTECH裁员 GovTech于7月15日宣布裁退93名职员，完成其向新运营模式过渡的第一阶段。随着其从“一次性项目交付模式”转向“持续产品所有权模式”，预计未来两年将再裁减约300名员工。议员蔡庆威（Louis Chua，工人党－盛港）希望了解数码发展及新闻部（MDDI）是否掌握被裁退的93名职员的年龄、资历级别、职务及已识别技能缺口等信息。他也询问为何这些职员未被认定可调任至其他机构。议员沙拉尔·塔哈（Sharael Taha，人民行动党－巴西立－樟宜）希望了解MDDI是否预见到GovTech运营模式的转变，以及是否及时实施技能提升或职业转换计划以减少裁员。议员叶汉荣（Yip Hon Weng，人民行动党－杨厝港）询问，GovTech从项目交付转向产品所有权，是否反映公共部门科技聘用的更广泛转变，以及此类转变对整体科技劳动力可能有何影响。

O水准口试、致命雷击、新柔捷运衔接系统 议员也就7月15日普通教育证书（GCE）O水准英语口试事件提出质询。社交媒体上有投诉指部分考生屏幕上显示的试题与口试考官所见不同。新加坡考试与评鉴局（SEAB）表示考试并无差异，显示给考生的题目与给考官的相同。议员林志蔚（Jamus Lim，工人党－盛港）询问当局检视了哪些记录与证据、是否咨询受影响考生与考官，以及有何证据支持其“未发生错误”的结论。议员苏慧敏（Hany Soh，人民行动党－马西岭－油池）希望了解SEAB是否接获学生或其家长的协助请求，若有，SEAB如何提供协助。关于7月6日巴西立海滩附近的致命雷击事故，沙拉尔询问可持续发展与环境部会否与相关机构检讨公共预警系统及实时雷电警报，以降低海滩与户外休闲场所的雷击风险。议员朱佩玲（Choo Pei Ling，人民行动党－蔡厝港）询问政府是否评估新山－新加坡捷运衔接系统（RTS Link）将如何重塑跨境商业格局、新加坡哪些行业将最受影响，以及政府如何支持新加坡企业加强竞争力并把握新机遇。人工智能 议员也提出多项有关人工智能在新加坡的采用与影响的问题。官委议员桑吉夫·库马尔·蒂瓦里（Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari）要求人力部按企业规模列出已采用人工智能的公司，以及其经历的结果，例如工作再设计、降低招聘或缩减编制。苏慧敏希望了解社会及家庭发展部过去三年是否接获任何由人工智能鼓励或与人工智能相关的青少年与儿童自残个案报告，以及有何保障措施防范此类风险。苏慧敏也询问法律部是否知悉有人工智能伪造或经人工智能增强的证据被呈交法庭的情况，以及司法人员与官员是否受过充分培训以防范此类案件。议员萨蒂安迪·苏帕（Saktiandi Supaat，人民行动党－碧山－大巴窑）希望了解公共服务中人工智能的主要应用场景、有多少机构已在业务中部署生成式人工智能系统，以及政府如何衡量此类部署带来的生产力提升、服务改善与风险。议员严燕松（Alex Yam，马西岭－油池）询问文化、社区及青年部是否评估过生成式人工智能对新加坡艺术与创意产业的影响，以及正考虑何种支持以协助艺术家适应生成式人工智能，同时保护知识产权与生计。

工人党动议 工人党（WP）也将于星期二在国会提出一项动议，呼吁打造惠及所有新加坡人的“未来经济”。由议员张恭灿（Kenneth Tiong，工人党－阿裕尼）与林志蔚副教授提出的动议，将阐述反对党对此类未来的愿景及其自身的“经济行动手册”。动议建议议院相信“一个更平等、更具包容性的经济，让企业家有实验机会，家庭与企业能成功，工人能茁壮发展，创意与创新能蓬勃；并由充满活力的本地企业、健康的国内需求，以及走出国门的新加坡人与新加坡资本所驱动的经济引擎”。