SINGAPORE: The Housing Development Board (HDB), a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development, has scrubbed its social media of any trace of a post on resale flat prices that was published on Monday (July 24).
The deleted post was part of a series published by the HDB called ‘Overheard in the Heartlands’ that carries a quote that was supposedly overheard in HDB’s neighbourhood estates, along with a clarification on housing policies and trends.
For example, a post published on June 22 covered a conversation that was supposedly overheard about how an individual wants to apply for a whole slew of grants for a new flat. The second slide of the post then shows exactly what grants are available for buyers.
The post captured a conversation that HDB seems to claim was overheard by ordinary Singaporeans. It said, “Resale flat prices seem crazy nowadays. I might have to sell my most valuable possession in the world just to afford one!”
This was allegedly met by a reaction stating: “What, your McDonalds Hello Kitty Collection?”
HDB proceeded to state that resale flats “still remain affordable” and said that most first-time flat buyers can service their loans using their CPF savings, without large monthly cash payments.
The latest ‘Overheard in the Heartlands’ post, however, quickly drew backlash for being “insensitive” and “tone-deaf” leading to it being wiped altogether from the Government agency’s online platforms.
Netizens were quick to slam HDB for the post. Pointing to rising property prices, even as Singaporeans grapple with the hefty cost of living and the impact of inflation, Singaporeans online asserted that the post was unprofessional and unsympathetic to the plight of Singaporeans who are struggling to afford public housing.
One Facebook user, Joseph Tan, asked, “Which HDB scholar who never stay in HDB thought of this joke?,” while others asserted that concerns on the ground should be taken seriously, not made light of.
HDB appears to have deleted the negative comments on its post before taking the post down entirely. The Independent Singapore has approached HDB for comment. /TISG