Dragon mural put up at Tampines North HDB Block for CNY removed

SINGAPORE: An attempt to spread festive cheer at a Tampines North HDB block turned into a brief but notable episode when a dragon mural, displayed to celebrate Chinese New Year (CNY), was swiftly removed.

The mural, fashioned by a couple residing in the Tampines GreenVines Build-To-Order project, adorned a wall at the lift lobby of Block 640B Tampines Street 62.

Crafted with white vinyl stickers, the artwork aimed to commemorate the Year of the Dragon and foster neighbourly connections in their newly inhabited locale.

The husband, who spoke to The Straits Times (ST), expressed that their intention was to uplift the neighbourhood ambience. Spending considerable time designing and assembling the mural, the couple drew inspiration from the iconic Toa Payoh dragon playground.

Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng, upon learning about the mural on 5 February, described it as "sweet" and "nice," expressing initial support for its temporary display till the conclusion of CNY.

Nevertheless, despite efforts to keep the mural intact, it was removed within two days, as Mr Baey’s suggestion did not reach the cleaner in time.

Tampines Town Council clarified that the stickers were removed due to a breach in protocol, as formal approval was not sought beforehand.

After adhering to cleaning and upkeep guidelines, a cleaner then removed the stickers.

However, the council stated that if the couple decides to reapply the stickers, they can remain until the end of CNY.

The council emphasized the necessity of obtaining approvals to ensure compliance with regulations and to balance varying requirements for public exhibitions.

Criteria for evaluating such requests include ensuring that decorations do not overcrowd communal spaces or obstruct safety indicators.

According to its regulations, alterations to communal property, such as removal, destruction, damage, or vandalism, are prohibited. The town council reserves the right to recover expenses incurred in restoring the damaged property from the responsible party.

Mr Baey acknowledged the importance of maintaining decorum while encouraging community involvement, emphasizing the need for a case-by-case approach in addressing such matters.

Residents expressed disappointment over the removal, citing the mural's role in fostering a sense of belonging and community spirit within the block.

The Instagram account that posted the image of the decoration wrote in its update: "The dragon wall mural was unfortunately short-lived and only lasted 2 days before being prematurely removed by Town Council workers. Strange that they are so proactive in enforcing the rules for such initiatives to improve the community but don't proactively remove the many advertisements defacing the walls of the lift lobby and lifts."

One Instagram user wrote, "The outcome is pathetic and is blindly following the "by-laws" without an appreciation of the spirit of the law. The intent (or some call it spirit of the law" is not to catch well meaning residents doing something for the community. No wonder Singapore ranks so lowly on innovation and enterprise! Shame on whoever that decided on the removal."

Another wrote, "Inflexibility or bylaws? The big rethink of Singapore seems to be imminent. When the MP who runs the TC allows it but the word isn’t pushed down."

The episode echoes a previous controversy in 2023 when the red-themed aesthetics of Block 640B garnered mixed reactions from residents.

Block 640B is one of the 11 blocks within the Tampines GreenVines project, each characterized by three distinct colour themes.

Following public feedback, efforts were made to address concerns and repaint certain areas.

As of 6 February, HDB reported that 1,227 out of the total 1,271 units in the Tampines GreenVines project have been taken up, and 1,198 households have collected their keys, reflecting continued demand for HDB housing in Singapore.