The Housing Board officer who was fined for giving confidential information to a Straits Times journalist has been transferred to another role in the agency so that he can "start afresh".

Mr Ng Han Yuan, 25, was also given a "stern reprimand which will impede his eligibility for salary increment, bonus and consideration of progression for a stipulated period of time", HDB said in a statement yesterday.

Formerly an estate manager in the resale operation section, he will start at his new role on Feb 19. HDB did not disclose what is his new role and how long he will not move up the career ladder.

Noting that it takes a "serious view of any unauthorised disclosure of information", HDB said it took disciplinary action against Mr Ng for breaching the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Mr Ng, who was suspended while the case was being investigated, was fined $2,000 last December.

He had given ST journalist Janice Tai information about a new HDB website between May 31 and July 16 last year. The portal would halve the transaction time for the resale of HDB flats from 16 weeks to eight weeks and the face-to-face appointments from two to one.

He had also told Ms Tai, 29, there would be changes to the valuation process.

Details of the portal - which was launched on Jan 1 this year - had not been made public at the time.

Ms Tai was given a stern warning by the police last November for approaching several people to ask about the confidential information that she had received.