SINGAPORE โ Following news that parts of the ๐๐-๐ก๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ will be cleared to make way for a new public housing estate, a coalition of environmental groups has proposed what it believes is a "far more logical alternative": ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐-๐ก๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐.
The proposal, submitted by the Coalition Of Concerned Kampungs (COCK), argues that if Singapore truly needs land for housing, it should first redevelop the country's largest and most underutilised landscaped property before touching a mature secondary forest.
"It's just basic optimisation," explained COCK spokesman Abdul Balik bin Kampung, while pointing at two rectangles on a whiteboard labelled 23 hectares and 40 hectares.
Abdul added that the proposal was "not anti-President", but "pro-efficiency."
"We're simply applying the same logic consistently."
๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐
The report notes that modern technology has made many executive functions location-independent.
"The President already receives guests indoors, signs documents indoors, and attends meetings indoors," the report states.
"These are all things that can now be done from home."
To facilitate the transition, the NGOs have proposed a Presidential Remote Working Package, consisting of:
- one government-issued laptop (with no internet connection, because security),
- a standing desk,
- and an official Istana Zoom background.
๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐
To address concerns over state visits, the proposal promises that diplomacy will not be affected.
"Just like Maju Forest, where approximately 8 hectares will remain untouched," Abdul explained, "we are happy to retain 8 hectares of the Istana exclusively for diplomatic purposes."
While COCK readily admits its proposal is absurd, Abdul said it was intended to highlight an uncomfortable question.
"One can always build another official residence."
"You cannot build another ancient forest."
"Then next time no more forest to clear already how? We go to colonise other countries is it?"
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