'Living in a bubble': Woman's take that 'HDB people' shouldn't work in private properties leaves netizens livid

'Living in a bubble': Woman's take that 'HDB people' shouldn't work in private properties leaves netizens livid
In a LinkedIn post, Satwant Kaur said "it's about money", and "not values" for those living in public housing.
PHOTO: The Straits Times, Screengrab/LinkedIn

One woman's recent hot take on "HDB people" has drawn plenty of flak from netizens, who questioned if she is out of touch with reality.

In a LinkedIn post shared on Monday (May 22), Satwant Kaur said that it is "hard for her to live in Singapore" when people living in public housing are allowed to take on jobs in private residential areas.

"They remain for six to eight hours a day, and that's a lot," the woman said, adding that it is necessary to limit contact with "HDB people" so that she would not lose her "unique identity".

The reason why Kaur felt that those living in HDB flats should not mix with private property residents?

"It's time to accept, for the most part, HDB and private residence people are very different because of our outlook on community building," she claimed.

In the social media post, Kaur said that those living in private properties are built "according to values and mindset".

"We ignore race, language and religion and prioritise mental acuity and emotional stability," she added, while claiming that she shows her "values and [her] humanity in how [she] work, play and hire".

Public housing residents, however, are "about money and not values", according to Kaur.

"It's simply about networks and rules that the government can give them, and they sit and wait for them," she said. "It tells us nothing of their values nor their humanity."

Describing herself on LinkedIn as a "nationalist", Kaur listed how she is working in the communications industry and is an "influencer and content creator". 

Kaur's LinkedIn post has been re-shared on other social media platforms, where it has garnered over 300 comments on Reddit.

While Kaur did not mention who the "HDB people" are, several netizens called her out for suggesting that "cleaners and foreign domestic workers" have no place on private property grounds. 

"Basically saying ’poor’ people should not work in ‘rich’ peoples' areas because somehow ‘rich’ people have a unique identity," a netizen said.

"She's living in a bubble," another said.

One user on LinkedIn felt that her opinion on the social media platform was an "interesting read". 

"I found Satwant's post illuminating as it highlights the fault lines due to income equality in Singapore," another netizen said, adding that it is "crucial to address this issue". 

AsiaOne has contacted Kaur for comment.

In another recent social media post that has garnered strong reactions from netizens, an expat in Singapore shared her $11,000 'basic' monthly expenses

In a video uploaded in January, TikTok user Gieziheart shared her family of three's monthly "basic cost of living" – which included her family's transport allowance of $900 and the grocery bill amounting to $1,500.

Several netizens in the comments felt that Gieziheart was showing off her wealth, while others said that there was nothing wrong with the family's expenditure. 

chingshijie@asiaone.com

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