PropertyLimBrothers faces backlash over chaotic lo hei celebration video
PropertyLimBrothers faced online backlash after a video showed staff flinging yusheng during a Lunar New Year lo hei event, with netizens criticising the apparent food wastage and questioning the firm’s professionalism.
- PropertyLimBrothers faced online backlash after a video showed a chaotic lo hei event.
- Netizens criticised the apparent food wastage and questioned the firm’s professionalism.
- The incident followed separate criticism of NTU students over similar behaviour.
Singapore-based real estate agency PropertyLimBrothers (PLB) has drawn criticism after a video of its annual Lunar New Year celebration showed staff engaging in what many netizens described as disorderly behaviour during a lo hei session.
The now-deleted video, posted on 12 February 2026, captured scenes from the company’s annual shou gong fan, a pre–Lunar New Year meal held to celebrate corporate achievements. The footage quickly circulated online and attracted widespread commentary.
In the clip, staff were seen gathered around several tables tossing yusheng while shouting “huat ah”.
While most participants tossed the ingredients upwards in the customary fashion, some were seen flinging the food towards colleagues at neighbouring tables.
Several staff members appeared to shield themselves with plastic lids from the yusheng boxes, while one individual placed a plastic bag over his head to avoid being hit by flying food.
The company captioned the video: “The celebration peaked as we rolled up our sleeves for hands-on LNY activities, creative showcases, and a meaningful Lo Hei — the PLB way.”
Lo hei is a Lunar New Year tradition in which families, friends and colleagues gather to toss yusheng while reciting auspicious phrases for prosperity.
Higher tosses are symbolically associated with greater fortune in the year ahead.
However, reactions online were largely critical.
On Reddit, users described the behaviour as immature and disrespectful, with some commenting that even schoolchildren would know better than to throw food at others.
Many expressed concern about apparent food wastage, noting the symbolic significance of yusheng during the festive period.
Others questioned the firm’s professionalism, suggesting that such conduct could reflect poorly on a company entrusted with property transactions.
A small minority of commenters defended the celebration as harmless festive fun, arguing that corporate events sometimes encourage exuberant participation.
Nevertheless, critical voices significantly outnumbered those offering support.
The incident occurred a day after students at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) faced criticism for rowdy behaviour and alleged food wastage during a hall lo hei event on 11 February 2026.
A spokesperson for the university said NTU takes concerns about food waste seriously.
The spokesperson added that the students involved would be counselled over their behaviour.
The backlash against PLB also comes amid heightened scrutiny of the company following earlier controversy.
In January 2026, PropertyLimBrothers was embroiled in online speculation over alleged personal conduct involving its co-founder and chief executive officer, Melvin Lim, and vice-president of strategy Grayce Tan.
Following internal review, both Lim and Tan resigned from their leadership roles and were removed from the company’s website. An interim chief executive officer was subsequently appointed as part of the leadership transition.
