Watchdog objects to dolphin villa ads

The Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (Asas) has objected to advertisements put up in April by the developers of a dolphin lagoon villa project in Batam, Indonesia, reported The Straits Times.

This comes after the advertising watchdog found three things that were unacceptable quoting an unnamed buyer on how wonderful the project was, promising a guaranteed rental of seven percent per year and claiming that landmarks like Marina Bay Sands could be seen from the development.

Featuring 64 two-bedroom villas, the project is situated 3km off Batam, on a cluster of six small islands that are collectively called Pulau Manis. They are being developed by Singapore-registered firms Seven Seas FID and Funtasy Island Development.

Priced at $758,000 each, the villas are shaped like a round bamboo hut and built around a lagoon with captive dolphins that interact with residents.

While foreigners in Indonesia are not allowed to own land, they can be granted leases to use the land.

Launched in April at One Degree 15 Marina, the villas are set to be completed by end-2018.

Asas chairman Tan Sze Wee explained that once an advertiser is informed that its ad includes unacceptable content, they have to cease from making the objectionable claims with immediate effect in all current and future marketing communications.

Meanwhile, Funtasy Island spokesperson Kelly Huang said the developer will observe the guidance provided by Asas.

We will work closely with Asas in the future, she noted. At this point, we have not decided the manner of how the ads will come out.

Romesh Navaratnarajah, Singapore Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg

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