Advertising authority and HDB should act on junk mail

I APPLAUD the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (Asas) for imposing regulations on budget airlines and travel agents to advertise inclusive fares, so travellers know right away how much their air ticket or holiday will cost. This is a great move as the traveller can determine the exact cost, rather than go through the tedious process of finding the cost of fuel surcharges and taxes. This will enhance productivity and minimise unnecessary time and effort.

However, there is an additional initiative I hope Asas and the Housing Board can jointly adopt.

Almost every day, I receive leaflets or pamphlets from property agents, private tutors, caterers and so on at my doorstep. This is very annoying as a dedicated letter box is set aside for people to advertise or promote their products or services to households. There is also a storage block at some letter boxes for people to dispose of unwanted leaflets.

The leaflets cause inconvenience as people tend to dump them along the corridor, which is unsightly and creates more work for cleaners. They are also a potential hazard as people may slip on them, especially elderly folk and children.

Therefore, I urge Asas and HDB to bar these advertisements.

Ang Kim Huat