MSE does not have mandate on land use planning of Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks: Grace Fu
Fu had previously addressed the ministry's role in the conversation in Parliament.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu clarified on August 7 that her ministry does not hold the mandate to oversee land use planning and zoning decisions, despite the involvement of issues related to the development of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks in Singapore's climate agenda. This clarification came following the announcement of plans for the areas on July 10, which led to questions about the role of the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) in protecting the forested regions.
When questioned by Woodleigh Pan (WP) MP Kenneth Tiong in Parliament on August 4, Fu stated that her ministry should not take a different stance from the Ministry of National Development (MND), as all ministers are in agreement, adding that a fight between ministers would disappoint those who hoped for it. In her subsequent post on Instagram and Facebook, Fu shared her observations regarding the Ministries' roles, explaining that while the MND is responsible for land use planning and zoning, taking into account various demands and trade-offs across government, MSE does not have a mandate in these areas, even though they are considered alongside the climate agenda.
She affirmed that on significant national undertakings, such as climate mitigation and adaptation, ministries collaborate to devise a unified plan with stakeholders and Singaporeans, citing the Singapore Green Plan as an example, which was coordinated by MSE and involved robust discussions among relevant agencies and Cabinet members, along with extensive public consultation.
Fu appreciated the public's concern for shared green spaces, noting that petitions to protect Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks have gathered over 57,000 signatures since the development announcement. During the August 4 Parliament session, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan had addressed questions from 19 MPs, confirming that the areas would still be developed to meet Singapore's housing needs over the next decade, with further engagements and reviews of feedback before finalizing development plans, potentially leading to adjustments in layout, greenery, and heritage conservation.
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