Conditions for Waiving Ethnic Integration Policy for HDB Flats

Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are cases of Singaporeans who have acquired new or resale flats without enjoying any advantage under the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) but are made subject to EIP when selling the same; and (b) if so, whether the Ministry will waive the application of EIP quotas for such sales.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for National Development): **** Mdm Speaker, the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) is not intended to advantage or to disadvantage any family when they buy or sell their flats. It is put in place to prevent the formation of ethnic enclaves. It helps to promote racial harmony in HDB estates. As multiracialism characterises Singapore, ensuring racial harmony is an important principle in our public housing policy.

The EIP limits are consistently applied across all ethnic groups in Singapore. There may, indeed, be cases where some buyers or sellers are inconvenienced by the EIP at the time of purchase or sale. However, we are unable to exercise any waiver, or we would compromise the objective of the EIP.

Currently, only a few HDB neighbourhoods are affected by the EIP limits. For these neighbourhoods, flat sellers are still able to secure buyers from the eligible ethnic groups, given the large volume of resale transactions.

Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Mdm Speaker, supplementary questions. I thank the Minister of State for the answer. I should say that I fully support the objectives of the EIP programme. I think it is right. I just have two questions. First, a question of clarification: would I be right to say that new flats are allotted to Singaporeans after the EIP quotas are already taken into account. So, in other words, if a person of a minority race receives a flat under the BTO allocation system, is it because his quota has already been taken into account in the allocation?

The second question is really one to narrow the exception I alluded to. Can the Ministry at least consider an exception where a minority seller has to sell on account of arrears or on account of order of court, or in other words, where he is forced to sell the flat? In those circumstances, will the Ministry consider waiving the EIP requirement?

Mr Desmond Lee: Madam, on the hon Member's first question, yes, the EIP quotas are applied when the BTOs are put up for balloting. As for the second point about forced sales or where an individual is required to sell, the Ministry would look at it on a case-by-case basis. It is only in very exceptional circumstances that we will consider a waiver of the EIP. So, I hope that addresses the concerns.