Tiong Bahru HDB residents to vote on new colour scheme after uproar over 'awful purple' repainting works

Tiong Bahru residents will go to the polls again – this time to vote on the colour scheme of their HDB blocks.

Following recent backlash over Blocks 9A and 9B Boon Tiong Road being painted what some residents are calling "the most saturated and awful purple", a series of town hall meetings held on May 16 and 17 by Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang concluded with Boon Tiong residents getting an opportunity to vote on the estate's HDB blocks' colour scheme.

Displeased residents of Boon Tiong had previously posted signs around their block criticising the colour choice and urging residents to contact Foo and the Town Council on the matter.

They later found out that the decision had been made without their input.

The repainting works have been paused in the meantime.

In a Facebook post on May 18, Foo said that more than 200 residents were present across the four town hall sessions.

He added that the poll will "incorporate several suggestions which were discussed during the townhalls—including to make refinements to the schemes".

Residents can expect to be notified, via lift notices, when voting starts.

This will likely take place in a matter of days, while Foo and his team take "a bit of time over the next few days to refine the options", he wrote.

Foo also explained in his post that purple was originally chosen "to reflect the purple bougainvillea" that the community had planted years ago, intended to "deepen the sense of belonging".

The Straits Times reported that the idea emerged during Indranee Rajah's previous term as an adviser to Tanjong Pagar GRC Grassroots Organisations. Rajah was MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC from 2001 to 2025, while Foo joined the constituency as an MP this year.

Foo further emphasised that there will be clear communication with the residents ahead of the works and that disruptions will be minimised.

Top photo by Mothership