Property Agent POFMA'd Over Criticism of Housing Policy & AI-generated Gov Ad Ridiculed #YLB 553

A property agent has been POFMAed for a video that made false claims about the HDB’s Ethnic Integration Policy. We analysed the video and the POFMA order to try and figure out the truth. Elsewhere, a series of social media posts by the Ministry of Finance featuring images of Singaporean families generated by AI, has drawn flak from online commenters. Why the outrage over some AI images?

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(00:00) On this episode...
(00:11) Tell You First
(00:59) Intro
(04:33) Property Agent Issued POFMA Over Criticism of Housing Policy
(40:06)) AI-generated Government Ad Draws Ridicule
(50:54) One Shiok Comment
(53:52) One Shiok Thing

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Property Agent Issued POFMA Over Criticism of Housing Policy

AI-generated Government Ad Draws Ridicule

One Shiok Comment

One Shiok Thing

Edited and mixed by Tristen Yeak

[tinyblackmage]

I can attest to the price differential between the EIP unit vs Nons. I wanted to buy an Indian-owned unit in Queenstown that’s listed for so long that couldn’t be sold off, despite priced much lower than other similar units of that block, but due to the quota thing, as a Chinese I couldn’t.

On the flip side, it DOES benefits the minority buyers, who could easily snag up these units on the cheap.

In short, Buy cheap Sell cheap lor!

[stngiam]

Wait. How can it be acceptable for MND to borderline dox the property agent just because he criticized them ? He never mentioned his own flat in his video. What gives MND the right to reveal where he lives and how he bought his flat. It's quite obvious the Minister told his staff to dig up all the dirt they could on the guy. They're basically making an example of him and threatening anyone who dares to criticize the government, "We know where you live." And we can expose anything about you and your family.

In any case, regardless of how big the pool of applicants was when Shaik Amar balloted for his flat, he's *still* going to have to sell for less than his Chinese neighbours if the EIP is in place for his block. But he didn't get any minority discount when he bought his flat direct from HDB. So his point is still valid.

Things have definitely improved from the old "climate of fear" days, but this case shows the government's instinct to play the man rather than to play the ball. If they had just made their own post about the pros and cons of the EIP policy, that would have been fine, but using non-public data to make personal attacks on a critic crosses the line. All the more when they use POFMA to force people to repeat a "self-confession" written by the Government.

[Koed]

His main gripe is that minorities do not have the opportunities to sell their hdb flats at record high prices, since their buyer pool is inherently smaller due to EIP... and iirc, only a couple of his statements were pofma-ed, and not his whole video...

[kae.]

Good on mnd to pofma him. A balanced perspective is much needed if you want to talk about EIP. My minorities/mixed race couple friends who applied for BTO and especially SBF, knew the advantage they had (likely Shaik himself too since he had directly benefitted during SBF, as MND has rightly pointed out) and those minorities who bought cheaper resale with quota also have the EIP to thank. Just as my Chinese friends, including myself, are not fans of the EIP for exactly the same reasons. Focusing on solely the resale seller aspect to bash EIP is very wrong.

[張小千-or]

In the 80 to 90 0:53 Singapore go after 5C .many HDB people want to stay in condominium

[HKG-gqkp]

POFMA is deeply flawed - the issuer (ie the Minister who are politically partisan) decides what's false; the appeal process goes to the said minister instead of a neutral/independent entity; and the accused is burdened to prove the accusations to be false! The burden of proof have always belonged to the accuser as they should have evidence in order to prosecute.

[BrianPatrick-sb]

Pofma requires the party to issue the clarification /:correction by the minister alongside the original posts. The original posts need not be removed (it doesn't disappeared like well weibo or xianghongshu) the party removed it as its own option.

[LonganLee]

Here my view on why there are always people who thinks or are convinced any policy is perfect:
1. Bias.
2. Defensiveness
3. Inability to accept flaw being flagged out
4. Bigotry
5. Lacking wisdom that no policy can ever be perfect. When one thinks it is perfect thats when one has a lack of wisdom.

[Dracsh]

Lol wanna buy cheap, but cannot sell high then complain? Please la. I'm a chinese and I also want the opportunity to buy cheap EIP flats. But i don't go around complaining that it is unfair to the majority.

[Curious-ny]

One of the many things that I like about this podcast is that Terence and Haresh have differing perspectives and opinions of the issue and also approach the topic from multiple perspectives. Kudos to Terence for never failing to rile Haresh with your questions. It is also entertaining :)

[Searth]

Thanks for this Broadcast.

Would @Yah Lah BUT Podcast, please, ... do some research on the following Racial enclaves - organically created - and the repercussions to Society,

1. Melville Park Condo
2. Mandarin Gardens (as Believed)
3. People's Park
4. Lucky Plaza, ..spread out to Far East Plaza, ..
5. Peninsula Plaza

Thank You

[kelvinkwok]

The property agents's point on financial detriment is only specifically targeting minority race sellers.

What about minority race buyers and majority race buyers?

Because the minority race buyer pool is smaller, they can employ the "take it or leave it" negotiation tactic. Isn't that a benefit on its own?

And because the majority race buyer is bigger, the majority race seller can take their pick for the highest bidder. Isn't that a disadvantage for most majority race buyers?

Side note, since this is resale HDB, PR are able to purchase. And we know the majority race of Singapore. If I were to piece them together, what possibly drove the insane prices to continuously rise?

[clementihammock]

Only Stand up Comedian Kumar will be exempted from any POFMA. 😂

[Reneroxy]

Will Tell You First ever make it to Youtube as well?

[ennaelmil]

U all should have gotten him onto the podcast. 😂

[mrjunweii]

will tell you first podcast be on YouTube???

[pjsthetube]

Does the ruling apply to private property?

[wowokingxoxo]

He is lucky not to be charged for sedition .

[yut]

eip better for a bigger country - SG so small we bound meet other races one way or another…does not matter why need an eip where you go home at the end of day to sleep

[LonganLee]

I like Haresh's point that no system is perfect. This justifies the pointing out of flaws or weaknesses in any system or policy by anyone. But there appears to be some bigots out there who are intolerant of any critical opinions or opinions that differ from the establishment's. I mean there is always a group who attacks comments that do not flatter or agree with the establishment. Ruling party is designed to be allowed to come and go and be changed and no ruling party has the right to dictate they remain in power eternally. But being human, humans are full of flaws and this can include their policies