Assessing Impact of Private Housing on Multiracial Interaction and Proposal to Extend Ethnic Integration Policy to Private Residential Developments

Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Government has assessed if the share of residents and foreigners living in private housing where the Ethnic Integration Policy does not apply may reduce everyday multiracial and multicultural interaction; and (b) whether it will consider studying if private residential developments should be subject to integration-related guidance or requirements at the planning, sale, tenancy or estate-management stages.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: Integration is an important goal to achieve social cohesion. There are however no plans to introduce ethnic integration requirements for private residential developments, as such a move will have major implications for the property market and for all private property owners.

We are facilitating integration through other ways. For example, we are injecting public housing in areas, like the former Bukit Timah Turf City, to achieve a better social mix in precincts with a higher proportion of private estates. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth has also piloted a new Permanent Resident (PR) Journey and Employment Pass (EP) Journey to help new PRs and EP holders settle in and understand local norms and culture.