HDB'S ETHNIC INTEGRATION POLICY (Grounds for waiver or variation)

HDB'S ETHNIC INTEGRATION POLICY:

(Grounds for waiver or variation): 16.

Mr Zainudin Nordin asked the Minister for National Development (a) under what grounds will the Government allow a waiver or variation of the current Housing and Development Board"s Ethnic Integration Policy; and (b) how many such applications have been received and how many were granted since this policy was implemented.

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) was implemented in 1989 to promote racial harmony in public housing estates by preventing the formation of racial enclaves. The EIP ensures that each neighbourhood and block in an HDB estate has a good mix of residents of different races.

A large number of resale flats are transacted in the open market every year. Hence, most flat buyers should not have difficulty finding a flat of their choice. Similarly, most flat sellers should not have difficulty finding a buyer for their flat. Last year, HDB received about 400 appeals for waiver of EIP from flat buyers and sellers. As the EIP is a very important policyin maintaining racial harmony in Singapore, we have to apply it consistently.The EIP has worked well in forging ethnic integration in Singapore. We should not tinker with it.

Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh): I have been informed of HDB flats being left empty, sometimes for several years, because of EIP. My question would be: how do we balance the need to achieve EIP and, at the same time, reduce the wastage of resources like empty flats that could be easily occupied?

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng: Sir, we have to be clear about the long-term policy objective of our public housing and EIP is one of them. It is not a small stone which we can just turn over. In fact, it is a bedrock. It is a bedrock upon which the racial harmony of Singapore rests. So, yes, although there are some vacant flats available, we must adhere to this policy. In fact, we must adhere to it very strictly and we should not compromise the long-term policy intent just because there are some holding costs of vacant flatsinvolved.

Mr S Iswaran (West Coast): Sir, the Minister of State's point is well taken, but the fact remains that this policy has been in force for 15 years. The question is whether MND has actually reviewed to see whether this policy is still necessaryand what are the parameters it would be referring to inevaluating its usefulness going forward because the policy, as Mr Zainudin has pointed out,imposes costs on the HDB minority residents. May I askwhether the Ministry would infact review the need for such a policy?

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng: The policy was introduced in 1989. Prior to that, about 28% of HDB neighbourhoods breached this EIP limit. Today, we have made some small progress, about 25% of HDB neighbourhoods breached the neighbourhood limit.

I think now, more than ever, whenterrorists and so forth are threatening to tearat our well intervowen social fabric, we must not give up this policy.We must not allow this vulnerability to be exploited. With Members' help, support and commitment, we can sell this policy.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 21(3), Written Answer to Question No. 18 on the Order Paperis reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos.17 and 19 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament.]