[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4},"routes/Container/Container",{"_5":6,"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":14,"_94":95},"type",0,"statusCode",200,"cacheControlMaxAge",60,"regenerateInterval",180,"payload",{"_15":16,"_17":18,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_48":49,"_66":67,"_81":82},"pageType","live-blog-landing-page","results",[19],{"_20":21,"_22":23,"_24":23,"_5":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31},"title","Live: Govt will continue to engage stakeholders on Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks plans: Alvin Tan","url","","description","live-coverage","refCode","live:-parliament-to-discuss-maju-forest-redevelopment-and-govtech-retrenchments","cards",[],"liveBlogData",{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41},"htmlData","

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LiveMPs debate proposed stricter penalties for dangerous driving, phone use on the road

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Earlier they discussed redevelopment plans for Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, GovTech lay-offs.

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Edited by Ng Wei Kai, Aqil Hamzah, BNB Diviyadhaarshini, Wong Man Shun

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Published: Aug 4, 2026

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\r\n","liveBlogId","2340","isLiveBlog",true,"isMultidayLiveblog",false,"multidayLiveBlogMapping",[],"uniqueName","live-singapore-parliament-august-2026","infiniteScroll",{"_46":47},"additionalStories",[],"advertisements",[50,58,62],{"_5":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57},"lb1","page","liveblog","slot","/5908/st/lb1/liveblog","id","dfp-ad-lb1",{"_5":59,"_52":53,"_54":60,"_56":61},"catfish","/5908/st/catfish/liveblog","dfp-ad-catfish",{"_5":63,"_52":53,"_54":64,"_56":65},"prestitial","/5908/st/prestitial/liveblog","dfp-ad-prestitial","metaData",{"_20":21,"_68":21,"_69":21,"_70":43,"_24":71,"_72":71,"_73":74,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_79":80},"ogTitle","twitterTitle","slug","Housing is one of Singapore's most pressing needs and it has to make best use of limited land, he added. Read more at straitstimes.com.","ogDescription","jsonLd","{\"@context\":\"https:\\/\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LiveBlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/live-singapore-parliament-august-2026\",\"headline\":\"Live: Parliament Aug 4\",\"description\":\"\",\"coverageStartTime\":\"2026-08-04T10:00:00+08:00\",\"coverageEndTime\":\"2026-08-04T23:59:00+08:00\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/assets\\/ST-logo-default-aoeSLh4S.png\",\"width\":\"1228\",\"height\":\"96\"}},\"liveBlogUpdate\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Parliament takes a break \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T15:38:46+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T15:38:52+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Nine MPs have joined the debate so far. They will return at 3.55pm.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Assess impact of new laws for those who make a living on the road, say MPs\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T14:54:58+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T14:57:31+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The new laws should consider the realities faced by many platform workers to maximise their earnings, says WP\\u2019s Dennis Tan (Hougang). Some drivers simultaneously operate multiple ride-hailing or delivery applications, often using several mounted devices within the vehicle, he notes, and asks if the ministry has assessed whether the use of multiple mounted devices contributes significantly to driver distraction. Labour MP Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah (Jalan Besar GRC) asks that the ministry consider a campaign to ensure that platform workers are kept up to date with the changes. Wan Rizal says that while he agrees that errant and dangerous drivers should be kept away from the roads, the new laws could have an adverse impact on breadwinners where driving is part of their job. \\u201cI therefore ask that when livelihoods are affected, the ministry work with platform operators, our unions, and platform worker associations in outreach and in handling cases sensitively.\\u201dST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"New laws ensure that egregious dangerous driving is appropriately punished, says Sim Ann \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T14:33:48+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T14:33:48+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Sim argues that the current laws do not account for the most extreme cases of dangerous driving, raising an example of a case where a driver intentionally sideswiped a motorcycle, leading to the death of its pillion rider. Yet the most serious charge that the offender could face, based on the facts of the case, was dangerous driving causing death, which carries a maximum imprisonment sentence of eight years, she said. \\u201cThe Government's view is that such conduct must face harsher consequences.\\u201d On tightening the laws around alcohol and driving, Sim says the current prescribed alcohol limits have been enforced since 1985. Since then, scientific understanding of alcohol impairment has advanced considerably, and many countries have reduced their legal limits. She also elaborates on the Bill\\u2019s proposal to outlaw the holding of mobile phones while driving. Under the current laws, a driver is only at fault when a police officer on the ground observes him operating the device while the vehicle is in motion. This is challenging to enforce practically, and more importantly, there should be no need to prove that the driver was operating, she says. Under the new rules, a driver who holds a mobile communication device in his hand while the vehicle is in motion will commit an offence.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Thai Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn visits Parliament\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T14:07:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T14:08:46+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng asks Sim to pause for Parliament to greet Thai Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn.She is seated in the House with Deputy Speaker Christopher de Souza. The Princess, who is the younger sister of the Thai King Vajiralongkorn, is leading a delegation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy on a study visit to learn about Singapore\\u2019s history and development.Members of the delegation are also in the House seated in the public gallery overlooking MPs. PHOTO: MDDI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Debate begins on new laws to improve road safety \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:49:21+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:52:07+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann opens the debate on proposed laws to deal with worsening road safety, including new punishments for those caught holding their phones while driving.It is her first speech in Parliament since being promoted to full minister at the July Cabinet reshuffle.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"More safeguards proposed for owners who do not consent to en-bloc sales \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:47:23+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:47:23+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Bill will also strengthen safeguards for owners who do not consent to such sales, MinLaw said. The ministry said the frequency and duration of collective sale exercises should also be minimised in developments where there is unlikely to be sufficient support. Its proposals include raising the threshold to initiate a collective sale attempt, by requiring at least 35 per cent of owners by share value or number of units in the development to sign the requisition to convene a general meeting to facilitate the sale. This is an increase from the current 20 per cent owners by share value or 25 per cent by the number of units in the development and will help to ensure that collective sale exercises are only initiated where there is sufficient support, said MinLaw. It also proposes extending the restriction period after a failed collective sale attempt from two years to three years. The Bill will be debated at the next available Parliament sitting, MinLaw said. This is likely to be in September.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Government proposes lowering threshold for consent for en-bloc sales of older developments \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:47:17+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:47:17+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Senior Minister of State for Law Murali Pillai has tabled new laws proposing to lower the threshold of consent required for older developments to be sold collectively. The Bill proposes lowering the threshold for collective sales, also known as en-bloc sales, for developments aged 60 or older from 80 per cent to 65 per cent of owners, said the Law Ministry (MinLaw) in a separate press release on Aug 4. It also proposes to lower the threshold for developments between 40 to 59 years old to 70 per cent, also down from 80 per cent. The thresholds of consent will remain at 80 per cent for developments aged between 10 and 39 and at 90 per cent for development aged less than 10 years. The Bill also proposes to expand the collective sale regime for non-strata-titled private residential developments where the flat owners own long leases in their units, but do not own the underlying land, MinLaw said. Today, such developments are not covered by the collective sale regime under the legislation, known as the Land Titles (Strata) Act, and a sale is only possible if there is unanimous agreement among flat and landowners. The proposed amendments will allow such developments to undergo a collective sale by majority consent, with safeguards to protect the interest of the landowner, it said.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Proposed Bill outlaws distributing personal information to create online accounts for crime \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:46:43+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:46:43+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"New laws have been tabled which make it a crime to supply, receive, possess and provide personal information to create accounts on tech platforms for criminal activity. If convicted, these online account mules may face fines of up to $10,000, up to three years\\u2019 jail and 12 strokes of the cane. Another set of amendments to fire safety laws have also been tabled to make it easier for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to go after suppliers of bomb shelter products which are not compliant. They also propose extending the validity of fire safety licences and permits. If passed, the SCDF will be able to take action against those who sell non-compliant shelter products, such as those used to modify bomb shelters in Housing Board flats. Both were tabled by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming, and will be debated at the next sitting.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Question time concludes after an extra 15 minutes\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:45:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:45:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng announces the end of question time for today. The Government will now introduce several pieces of new legislation.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"30% of retrenched GovTech workers are above age 50: Jasmin Lau \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:44:33+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:44:33+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Jasmin Lau says about 30 per cent of the 93 retrenched workers are above age 50. She is responding to labour MP Patrick Tay (Pioneer), who asked for this figure, and about what lessons the Government has learnt from the exercise. Earlier she had said that those 40 to 49 form the largest age group affected at 42 per cent. She adds that the Government has learnt two lessons from the exercise. First, it has found that officers who have to spend an extended period on a pathway towards exit, even with support in place, experience prolonged uncertainty and anxiety. Going forward, GovTech will shorten this period whenever possible, she says. The other lesson is that some messaging around the restructuring gave the impression that GovTech intends to move all work in-house and not use vendors anymore. \\u201cThat is not the case. Vendors continue to play an important role, particularly where we bring specialised expertise that complements our in-house teams,\\u201d she says. The Government will be clearer on this distinction in future, she adds. She also responds to WP NCMP Andre Low, who asked about how retrenched officers are being supported and if they are still working in GovTech. Lau says GovTech will continue to give them support for as long as they need. \\u201cWe intend to monitor their progress through the job placement efforts to make sure that they have a good landing.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Retrenched staff in application and interview stages for jobs offered through matching\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:30:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:31:51+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Retrenched employees interested in other roles offered through job-matching are currently still in the application or interview stages, says Lau.GovTech, along with the Public Service Division, the Skills and Workforce Development Agency and NTUC\\u2019s Employment and Employability Institute identified more than 300 jobs relevant to the affected officers\\u2019 competencies, she says.The outcomes of the transformation will be assessed across three areas:Whether officers have been supported through meaningful transition pathways, including retraining, conversion and redeployment where appropriate;Whether GovTech has strengthened the capabilities required for its future operating model; andWhether GovTech successfully delivers more secure, reliable and effective digital services for government agencies and citizens.For the wider tech workforce in the public service, mid-career professionals in project and vendor management do bring valuable and transferable experience that can serve as useful foundations for product-oriented roles, she adds.These roles were the focus of the restructuring exercise, as the agency moves away from vendor management to own and manage its own products.However, these officers still need to acquire relevant skills such as agile delivery, user-centred design, and knowledge of data, cloud technologies or cybersecurity, Lau says.\\u201cWe recognise that technology will continue to evolve, and the skills required of technology professionals will also have to evolve in tandem.\\u201dST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Indranee extends question time \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:30:34+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:30:34+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Leader of the House Indranee Rajah rises to extend question time until the questions on GovTech\\u2019s retrenchments have been answered. The House agrees, and MPs rise to ask supplementary questions.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Those aged between 40 and 49 form 42 per cent of officers retrenched from GovTech: Jasmin Lau\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:26:44+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:26:44+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Those aged between 40 to 49 form the largest age group among the 93 officers retrenched from GovTech, says Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau.This age group accounts for 42 per cent of the retrenched officers, and also 42 per cent of the 305 affected in the first round of the statutory board\\u2019s restructuring announced in July, said Lau.She is also the Minister-in-charge of the agency which provides digital services for the public sector.This age group is therefore not over-represented among the retrenched officers, she says, adding that there is no significant difference in tenure between those who have been retrenched and those who are being retrained.Lau is responding to questions from MPs such as PAP\\u2019s Patrick Tay (Pioneer) and WP\\u2019s Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC), who asked about the age profile of the 93 workers who were laid off and whether they were given ample opportunities for retraining for other roles.The retrenched officers have served for a median of 5.4 years, compared to a median of 6 years for the officers who are being retrained, Lau says.Two-thirds of the affected officers were individual contributors, and one third of the affected officers were team leaders, she adds.The restructuring is meant to take GovTech from managing projects delivered by vendors to running products itself, said its chair Chng Kai Fong in a note sent to the agency's roughly 3,900 staff on July 15. This is so the agency can respond and adjust quickly to national needs.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"WP MP Dennis Tan asks about population and household projections driving planning decisions\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:19:23+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:26:13+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"WP\\u2019s Tan (Hougang) asks the Ministry of National Development to publish the long-term population and household formation projections used to decide on Housing Board developments for the two sites, and elsewhere in Singapore. This will allow the public to independently assess if clearing these forests is necessary, he says. The Minister of State reiterates his earlier point that household formations have increased as household sizes get smaller, resulting in increased demand for housing. This is particularly so in the central areas where the two sites are near, he says, citing Clementi Emerald, a built-to-order housing board project in Clementi, that is four times oversubscribed. He notes that WP MPs have previously proposed a reduction in the age eligibility for singles to buy public housing, and suggested allowing first-time couples exceeding the income eligibility criteria to buy public housing, among other things, saying this will require increasing public housing supply. \\u201cThe WP stance on housing is very clear,\\u201d adds the Minister of State, asking WP\\u2019s Tan and other WP MPs to \\u201cstand by\\u201d the Government\\u2019s plan to build more housing. More MPs raise their hands to ask questions, and Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng reminds them: \\u201cI ask MPs to ask your questions, but not to ask the same questions for which in different ways MOS Tan has already answered.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Discussion on Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks concludes \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:25:54+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:25:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"After an hour and 20 minutes, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng wraps the discussion on the redevelopment of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks. We move on to the next set of questions on the GovTech retrenchments.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Christopher de Souza proposes alternative sites in his ward, Tan says they are not suitable in the near term\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:56:28+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:23:41+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) suggests two alternative sites close to Maju Forest, including the canal at Sunset Way, for the Government\\u2019s consideration instead. Citing a previous debate on Dover Forest that resulted in alternative housing sites being put forth and half of the forest preserved, he says that this could culminate in a win-win situation. Another site he proposes is at Clementi Avenue 5, where construction of the Cross Island Line is underway. de Souza oversees as MP the Sunset Way estate near Maju Forest.However, Tan says that while the Government tries its best to optimise land use and tap vacant land and brownfield sites where possible, there are no suitable sites nearby that can meet the near-term demand. The sites de Souza mentioned may be considered in the future however, Tan adds.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Kenneth Tiong questions why MSE is not leading the decisions on Maju; Gillman; Grace Fu says ministers are in support of overall Govt position\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T13:07:05+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T13:07:05+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Kenneth Tiong (Aljunied GRC) says that some nature observers have told him they are disappointed in what they perceive to be the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment\\u2019s (MSE) \\u201clack of leadership and ownership\\u201d in the decisions on Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest.He notes that MSE had designated 2026 as the year of climate adaptation. \\u201cWhy has MSE not been seen leading and advocating for this forest?\\u201d asks Tiong.Tan disagrees with the characterisation of MSE, adding that the Government makes decisions across different ministries and had gathered feedback from MSE.Tan says: \\u201cAt the end of the day, we will have to make decisions based on the best interest of Singapore and Singaporeans.\\u201dMinister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu also chimes in, saying that suggesting her ministry take a different position compared to the Ministry of National Development and objecting to redevelopment plans is \\u201cnot how we work as a Government\\u201d.\\u201cFor any one of us standing in front of here presenting a position by Government, the rest of us are in support, so I think if a WP member is hoping for a fight between ministers, I think they will be disappointed,\\u201d says Fu.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Govt will proceed with redeveloping Maju, Gillman, says Alvin Tan in response to whether or not moving ahead is an option\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:55:03+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:55:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Responding to a follow-up question by WP Non-Constituency MP Andre Low on whether the Government will move ahead with redevelopment plans at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, Tan says \\u201cwe will proceed\\u201d. The respective areas have already been zoned out for housing, he adds. He stresses that the Government is able to identify both the ecological and heritage significance of both sites, through the environmental and heritage impact assessments,and then mitigate the impact \\u201cas best as possible\\u201d. Separately, MP Rachel Ong (Tanjong Pagar GRC), who oversees the Telok Blangah ward where Gillman Barracks is located, asks if such assessments could be carried out at earlier stages, such as when the Master Plan is being developed. To this, Tan says that the Government will continue soliciting feedback even after the consultation period for the assessments ends on Aug 6.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Heritage buildings that cannot be retained will have history preserved in other ways: Alvin Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:36:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:47:53+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Government is studying the retention of all buildings assessed to be of \\u201cExceptional\\u201d heritage significance, as well as most of those assessed to be of \\u201cHigh\\u201d heritage significance at Gillman Barracks, says Tan. Where a heritage building cannot be retained because of practical site constraints, they will explore other ways to preserve its history, he adds. These include detailed documentation, salvaging and reusing suitable materials, and incorporating heritage interpretation into the future development. He adds that at Gillman Barracks, the authorities are also studying how to retain most of the native-dominated secondary forest within the site, and how to maintain ecological connections in the east-west and north-south directions. The east-west connection would link Telok Blangah Hill Park and HortPark, while the north-south connection would comprise an ecological corridor supporting the movement of birds towards Berlayar Creek and Labrador Nature Reserve, he says.PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"diviya\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Govt to conduct further engagements after Aug 6 before finalising plans; will publish report with response and any amendments\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:37:49+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:45:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Tan says the authorities cannot yet provide an exact figure of how many homes the sites will provide as they depend on layout, scale and finalised design.The current plan already reduces the number of conceptual homes in order to retain important green and heritage spaces, he adds.Conserving more would mean fewer homes \\u2013 a trade-off that must be weighed before the final decision, says Tan.Many people have provided feedback so far, including residents, nature enthusiasts and heritage advocates. Some want to preserve more greenery while others have shared their desire for more affordable and accessible public housing.Both perspectives reflect legitimate concerns and aspirations, says Tan.After the formal consultation period closes on Aug 6, the Government will conduct further engagements with stakeholders and closely review the study findings and feedback we received before finalising our detailed development plans, says Tan.It will also publish a report summarising agencies\\u2019 responses to the feedback, and any amendments made to the original set of plans.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Singapore will do its best to retain sites with greenery and heritage, but must weigh trade-offs if no suitable alternatives: Alvin Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:22:02+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:41:25+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Through the Urban Redevelopment Authority\\u2019s Master Plan, Singaporeans\\u2019 views are sought on how to use the country\\u2019s limited land for the next 10 to 15 years, says MOS Tan. The plan is reviewed every five years through public consultation, to ensure it remains relevant to the nation\\u2019s changing needs, he adds. He adds that a site\\u2019s zoning reflects its long-term planning intention, but when it is developed depends on national needs, availability of alternatives, and if supporting infrastructure is ready. Within this framework, Singapore will do its best to retain sites with significant greenery and heritage value, he says. But there will be occasions when no other suitable site can meet the same need, in the same area, and within the required timeframe, he adds. When that happens, the Government must weigh the trade-offs and consider whether it can develop a site responsibly to meet an important national need, such as providing homes for Singaporeans, Tan says.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Significant stretch of greenery, natural stream to be kept at Sunset Way\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:36:53+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:40:46+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Government is studying the retention of a significant stretch of greenery along the former Jurong Railway Line at Sunset Way, which will preserve an important part of Singapore\\u2019s railway heritage while maintaining ecological connectivity through the site, says Tan.He adds that the Government is also studying the retention of a natural stream and its surrounding riparian buffer, which provides refuge for wildlife.These green areas will be enhanced with more native trees and serve as buffers between the future neighbourhood and existing residential areas, says Tan.These plans are based on findings of the environmental studies on maintaining ecological connectivity, he says. Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way lie within the wider Labrador Nature Park and Clementi Nature Corridor respectively.HDB will use environmental modelling to improve wind flow, incorporate greenery, and use cool-paint to reduce urban heat in these future neighbourhoods, he adds.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Gillman Barracks, Sunset Way necessary for housing; alternative sites either being redeveloped or can\\u2019t be used\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:28:20+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:37:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Tan lists some alternative sites that people have proposed. Maju Camp is needed for national defence, and cannot be used for housing, he says. In lieu of Gillman Barracks, some people have called for homes to be built at Depot Lane Industrial Estate, the former Central Manpower Base (CMPB), and the reserve site at Pasir Panjang. The estate is already earmarked for future housing development, and Tan says that demolition of existing buildings is currently taking place. The site of the old CMPB meanwhile is still needed by the Ministry of Defence and other users, he says, noting that the Pasir Panjang reserve site is also in use by the Ministry of Education for outdoor learning activities. Tan says: \\u201cIn short, many of the sites suggested are already being developed for housing, are needed for other national purposes, or cannot be redeveloped yet. \\u201cThat is why we need to develop Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way to meet our housing needs over the next decade.\\u201dPHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Govt did not come to Sunset Way, Gillman Barracks sites first: Alvin Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:26:18+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:26:18+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks were earmarked for residential use since 1980 and 2025 respectively, says Tan.He says that Sunset Way had been planned to be used for housing in the Master Plan since 1980.For Gillman Barracks, the Government announced the intention to study the site for development during the 2024 Committee of Supply debate. It was then rezoned to reflect that intention under Master Plan 2025. \\u201cBut we did not come to these sites first,\\u201d says Tan.He says that over the years, the Government has prioritised redevelopment in Clementi, Bukit Merah and surrounding areas.Older estates in Clementi and Bukit Merah were redeveloped under the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme.For example, the Keppel Golf Course in Bukit Merah is being redeveloped, says Tan.Demand for housing in these estates remains strong, with the recent BTO launches at Clementi Emerald and Berlayar Rise each oversubscribed by more than four times, he adds.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Govt engages independent external consultants to assess ecological and heritage value before developing sites\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:25:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:25:06+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Tan says these consultants identify the site\\u2019s important habitats, plants, animals and ecological connections and establish the significance of any buildings, structures, landscape and other heritage attributes.They then assess how the proposed development could affect these features and make recommendations on how to avoid or reduce potential impact to the site. For example, they may suggest keeping areas of high ecological value or preserving important buildings.The findings, potential impact and proposed mitigation measures are published in a report which residents and the wider public may provide feedback on. Government agencies then consider these studies and feedback before finalising detailed plans, he says.And when works start, HDB and the National Parks Board will monitor the situation and contractors have to provide regular updates to ensure measures are implemented properly, adds Tan.\\u201cOur general approach is to avoid impact where we can, reduce them where we cannot, and mitigate those that remain,\\u201d says Tan.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Housing is one of Singapore\\u2019s most pressing needs: Alvin Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:13:46+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:24:27+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"With the total number of households increasing, housing is one of Singapore\\u2019s most pressing needs, says Tan.He elaborates that the current fertility rate is not indicative of housing demand, as Singaporeans who are buying Housing Board homes today were born decades ago when the birth rates were higher.Another factor that drives up demand is the smaller household sizes, as young married couples prefer having a home of their own to living with their parents or extended families, he says.If more Singaporeans are to qualify for HDB housing, and get their homes sooner, then Singapore must build more homes and build them faster, he adds.To do so, the Government must decide where to build housing and how to build responsibly.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"emswong\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Practical questions guide where Government builds\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:17:14+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:17:14+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Tan goes through how the Government decides on redevelopment, saying practical questions are asked such as whether there is existing vacant land that can be used, and whether it is possible to build taller, among other things. He adds: \\u201cWe pay close attention to greenery and heritage.\\u201d Citing how Singapore currently has 7,800ha of green spaces, he adds that even after accounting for planned developments, another 1,000ha of green space has already been earmarked by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Similarly, the Government has conserved more than 7,200 buildings and structures in more than 100 areas, and Tan says that where possible, significant heritage buildings and elements are kept and incorporated into new developments.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Singapore must 'make the best of limited land', says Alvin Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:13:39+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:14:51+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Tan says Singaporeans value heritage and green spaces, and also want future generations to have access to affordable public housing, as well as hospitals, schools, and places to work with roads and public transport to get around. \\u201cWe also need land for defence, essential infrastructure and coastal protection. \\u201cAnd I wish we had an abundance of land, so we can provide all these without having to make trade-offs,\\u201d he says. But he adds that is not the reality here, and the choices available are narrower than those faced by larger countries. That is why the Government plans decades ahead, to meet people\\u2019s needs today while keeping enough options open for future generations.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"diviya\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Redevelopment plans for Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks not finalised yet: Alvin Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:07:26+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:07:26+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan says he will address 18 questions filed on Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks for today\\u2019s sitting, as well as those scheduled for subsequent sittings. Some questions raised include how public housing needs and the conservation of natural places are weighed against one another, as well as whether recommendations made by nature groups will be considered. Reiterating that plans to redevelop Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks have not been finalised yet, he stresses that the Government will continue engaging stakeholders and taking feedback before any decision is made. This is even though the formal consultations for the Environmental Impact Assessments and Heritage Impact Assessments end on Aug 6, he says. Adjustments will be made to the development plans based on feedback received, he adds.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Parliament begins\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T12:01:21+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T12:01:21+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"We start with questions about plans to redevelop Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks into areas for public housing.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Ng Chee Meng takes seat in the frontbench with other full ministers\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T11:44:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T11:44:06+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Labour chief Ng Chee Meng has moved to the front row of Parliament in a new seating plan released by the House on Aug 4. Ng was promoted to Minister in the Prime Minister\\u2019s Office at a Cabinet reshuffle in July and joins the other full ministers who mostly occupy the first row of the left side of the House, flanking the prime minister. Ng takes the seat of former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim, who resigned as a minister and MP on July 20 due to inappropriate online interactions with a woman. The other Cabinet changes were also reflected in the new seating plan, which takes reference from MPs\\u2019 ranks and position. Sim Ann, Jasmin Lau and Goh Pei Ming, who were promoted, also shifted seats \\u2013 moving up the pecking order in the second row, which is mostly populated by senior ministers of state and ministers of state. Shawn Loh (Jalan Besar GRC) and Foo Cexiang (Tanjong Pagar GRC), who were appointed ministers of state in the reshuffle but have yet to be sworn in, have also moved to the section near the other junior political office-holders in the third row. On the other side of the House, where the remaining PAP backbenchers and opposition lawmakers sit, former senior minister of state Koh Poh Koon has taken Ng\\u2019s former seat in the front row, facing Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo. Koh stepped down from his political appointments on June 1 citing family reasons.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"yuenc\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"What to look out for today \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T10:31:59+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T10:39:07+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"There were a couple of big announcements that made the headlines last month that will dominate today's Parliament sitting. MPs have asked for more details. Flats or forest: MPs from both PAP and WP have filed questions following the Housing Board's announcement of its plans to redevelop the Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks areas for public housing. Some Singaporeans, especially those living near the areas affected, have raised concerns about the loss of green spaces and the impact on wildlife, with some petitioning their MPs to raise the issues in Parliament. MPs have asked if alternative sites were evaluated, if more greenery can be preserved and for more details on the feedback process. GovTech retrenchment: Some 93 GovTech staff were let go last month as part of the government agency's plans to restructure. Several MPs, such as PAP\\u2019s Patrick Tay (Pioneer) and WP\\u2019s Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC), want to know the age profile of the 93 workers who were laid off and whether they were given ample opportunities for retraining for other roles. Other MPs filed broader questions, with Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) asking if GovTech\\u2019s move reflects a broader shift in public-sector technology hiring. Both topics are likely to take up the bulk of the 1.5 hours set aside for questions. We Unpacked what the two announcements meant in our weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy here and here. In the afternoon, the House will debate a set of proposed laws to deal with worsening road safety, including new punishments for those caught holding their phones while driving. The Home Affairs Ministry said last month that Singapore\\u2019s roads have become more dangerous, and the tightening of laws is in response to its roads becoming less safe.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Good morning \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T10:30:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T10:30:16+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Welcome to our Parliament live coverage. We have a busy day ahead.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}}]}","keywords","Singapore Parliament, Live blog, Singapore politicians, Members of Parliament, Singapore Politics, PAP, Workers’ Party, Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks, Govtech retrenchment, layoffs, Singapore housing","robots","index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1","image","https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/articles/2026/08/04/parlshell.jpg?VersionId=JnquS46huNtGdPmXWAC9S59IEDmiRrPL","gaData",{"_83":84,"_85":23,"_86":23,"_20":87,"_88":89,"_90":91,"_92":93},"level2","23","chapter1","chapter2","Live:_Parliament_to_discuss_Maju_Forest_redevelopment_and_GovTech_retrenchments","title_ga","Live: Parliament to discuss Maju Forest redevelopment and GovTech retrenchments","pagination","1","contenttype","live blog","dependentPaths",[],"actionData","errors"]