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

More than 1,000 people gathered at Hong Lim Park on Sunday (Aug 16) to protest plans to develop Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, following the government's announcement that it would retain more greenery in selected areas. The demonstration, organized by SG Climate Rally, saw participants call for greater transparency in land-use decisions and expressed fears over the loss of green spaces.

Many wore green and red attire, holding placards with messages such as "Forests are our family" and "Destroying forests is not maju," a reference to the Malay word "maju," which means progressive.

The rally, which lasted three hours, featured activities like postcard writing, speeches, and sing-alongs by environmental advocates with expertise in ecology, economics, and education. Participants questioned the potential loss of biodiversity and ecological connectivity, as well as broader issues surrounding public participation in land-use decisions and access to information.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced plans to develop Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks for housing, which would clear about 15 hectares of Maju Forest and at least 10 hectares of forest at Gillman Barracks. The government has since held engagement sessions with stakeholders and pledged to adjust the plans to retain more greenery. However, participants expressed concerns that the development process might still result in the loss of significant green spaces.

Opposition politicians, including Workers' Party members Dennis Tan, Jamus Lim, Eileen Chong, Kenneth Tiong, and Fadli Fawzi, as well as Progress Singapore Party members Leong Mun Wai, and Singapore Democratic Party chairman Dr Paul Tambyah, attended the rally to show their support for citizens' concerns. They urged the government to continue reviewing its approach to consulting Singaporeans before implementing redevelopment plans in limited green spaces.