SINGAPORE - Thirty-five digital display panels (DDPs) installed at HDB lift lobbies in the Woodgrove and Marsiling estates in Woodlands were found vandalised on Thursday (March 24).
A police report has been lodged and authorities are investigating the matter, working closely with the DDPs' operator Target Media and the Marsiling-Yew Tee Town Council, the area's MP Hany Soh said on Facebook.
"It is unfortunate that the DDPs intended to provide useful information for our residents have been vandalised in such a manner," said Ms Soh.
"I hope that we can all play our part in taking care of the facilities in our neighbourhoods for the benefit of everyone."
Photos on Ms Soh's post showed the panels lying on the ground detached from their wall mounts. The screens were cracked and broken glass from the displays could be seen on the floor.
Responding to questions from The Straits Times, a spokesman from Target Media said it received a call at 8am on Thursday from Mr Joe Tan, a senior property manager from the estate’s town council.
“When the Target Media team arrived at the site, the DDPs were found to be badly smashed and dislodged from their locations.
“The wirings were also forcibly pulled out together with the panels, resulting in broken mounting plates and snapped wires,” the spokesman said.
She said replacing each of the DDPs will cost around $650 and that work has commenced to remove the damaged panels so that new ones can be installed. The installation will take a week.
There are about 18,100 DDPs across various HDB estates to provide residents with community and lifestyle information by leveraging digital technologies, in line with Singapore’s Smart Nation drive.
Target Media owns nearly 15,000 of the displays.
The spokesman added: “It is unfortunate that the displays in these affected areas were so badly damaged and they have to be replaced.
“Target Media is working with the town council to accelerate the pace of replacing these display panels so that residents will be able to obtain their community news.”
Correction note: An earlier version of this article said 41 digital display panels were vandalised, according to information from Target Media. The company has since clarified that it should be 35.
