‘Respect our country’s flag’ — Singaporeans upset after seeing underwear hung in front of Singapore flag at HDB block

SINGAPORE: As National Day approaches, more and more flags are displayed on office and residential buildings, a practice encouraged by the National Heritage Board and the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY).

However, one woman took to social media to post a photo of the flag displayed at what appears to be an HDB flat with a resident’s underwear hung directly in front of the flag.

“Respect our country’s flag … Singapore,” wrote Ms Wendy Lee on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page on Friday (Aug 4).

She commented on the post that the building is located in Pasir Ris and has already reported the matter to the Town Council.

The Independent Singapore has reached out to Ms Lee and the National Heritage Board, which issues guidelines on the use of the flag that can be found here.

The Board’s Examples of Respectful and Disrespectful Use of the National Flag says, “When displayed from homes, the National Flag should not be obscured or overlapped by laundry or footwear.”

Her post has elicited many outraged comments from other netizens, who, like Ms Lee, are upset over the articles of clothing placed over the flag.

Some said they believed this was done deliberately, while others opined that it may have been done unintentionally or out of ignorance.

“I believe it’s done by the new foreign domestic worker, she is probably not aware of the culture here,” chimed in one netizen.   

/TISG

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