MP explains decision not to change 'distasteful' design on HDB block after resident's complaint
Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said he supported the Tampines Town Council's decision not to change the design on an HDB block after a resident's complaint.
In a social media post on July 4, Mr Baey said that the resident had e-mailed the town council expressing his unhappiness over the new design theme featuring planes inspired by a children's board game at Tampines N4 Neighbourhood Centre.
"Even after the town council explained it twice, he still did not accept it and demanded the design to be changed or erased," said the MP.
Mr Baey shared screenshots of the resident's e-mails.
The resident said the repainting was done in "bad and poor taste".
He wrote: "Several residents whom I spoke to said the painting gave an impression of 'four missiles on target' or 'dropped bombs targetting the block'."
The resident continued: "It concerns me greatly that drawings and paintings depicting fighter jets or missiles targeting residents were deemed appropriate. This trivialises the severity of global conflicts we face today, suggesting that war and hitting targets are merely a game.
"This attitude by your good self and of Tampines Town Council is particularly distressing given Singapore's history of rising from the devastation of World War II, where many lives were lost. Should we forget the sacrifices made by our parents, grandparents, and countless others?"
He added: "To even have a slightest resemblance of missiles or bombs is uncalled for."
In another e-mail, he wrote: "As a Tampines resident, this Ludo design is not one to be proud of as it brings about the image of barbarity, promotions of war and inhumanity."
Mr Baey said in his social media post: "Even though this is the only resident who gave negative feedback, I took it seriously.
"After discussing with the town council, checking with some residents and grassroots leaders, and thinking through it, I support the town council's decision to stick to the original design concept for the following reasons."
He said the design is part of a series of nostalgia themes adopted for block painting in Tampines North and and was voted on by the residents, getting 61 per cent of the votes.
"It means that the bulk of residents had no issue with the aeroplane design," said the MP. "It would not be fair to the majority to change the design now.
"I understand that the resident was not involved with the voting as he does not live in this cluster of blocks."
Mr Baey added the painting works are funded by the service and conservancy charges paid by residents.
"It would not be a good use of residents' money to change something that was already chosen by them," he said.
The MP also cited another case where the walls were repainted after feedback from residents that the paint job cast an eerie glow into their flats.
"I am sharing this to illustrate the principles guiding Tampines Town Council on what they can and cannot do regarding residents' feedback." said Mr Baey.
This is of course not the first time the paint job in Tampines has made the news.
In 2023, pictures and videos of red floors and walls in the lift lobbies of Block 640B Tampines Street 62 drew public attention for their "spooky" appearance. Some residents were displeased with the red colour scheme.
In response, Mr Baey contacted HDB and some of the ceilings and walls were repainted white.
More recently, in June, a mural of a samsui woman holding a cigarette on a Chinatown shophouse stirred debate after the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) received complaint that "the woman depicted in this mural looks more like a prostitute than a hard-working samsui woman".
URA asked the mural artist to delay any changes to his work while the authority reviewed its stance on amending the mural.
