Greater differentiation between Singapore Citizen & PR for public housing

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced in Parliament on Friday changes in housing policy to promote citizenship in HDB households and encourage social integration.

To promote citizenship and reinforce the privilege that comes with it, households comprising one Singapore Citizen and one Permanent Resident (PR) will have their CPF Housing Grant reduced by S$10,000 when buying a resale flat. This will also apply to Design, Build and Sell Scheme flats and Executive Condominiums.

Should such households opt for a new flat, they will have to pay a 10,000-dollar premium on top of HDB's selling price.

Previously, PRs married to Singapore Citizens enjoyed the same subsidies as Singaporean couples. However, HDB will restore the S$10,000 should the PR family member take up citizenship, or if the couple has a child who is Singaporean.

Furthermore, in Parliament on Friday, Members of Parliament (MPs) aired concerns over PR enclaves.

Christopher de Souza, MP, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC said: "It is natural that people feel comfortable with their own kind, from similar backgrounds and culture. However, this could lead to a situation where integration within the Singaporean community is delayed or hampered."

In response, Mr Mah said on top of fulfilling ethnic quotas under the Ethnic Integration Policy, non-Malaysian PRs will be subject to an additional quota, at 8 per cent at the block level, and 5 per cent at the neighbourhood level. HDB said Malaysian PRs are excluded because of close historical and cultural links.

Mr Mah said: "PR enclaves are not a problem today, but as always, we try to look ahead. And if we see the trend, we should put precautionary measures in place early. Otherwise, it may be too late when the problem is already there, and you have to unravel the problem later.

"It is important that PRs integrate well in our local communities as they are long-term residents of Singapore."

The Ethnic Integration Policy will also be revised for Indians and other ethnic races living in HDB estates. At the neighbourhood level, their quota will go up from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. At the block level, it will be 15 per cent from the current 13 per cent.

There will be no change to the ethnic quotas for Chinese and Malays. For Chinese, it is 84 per cent at the neighbourhood level and 87 per cent at the block level. For Malays, it is 22 per cent at the neighbourhood level and 25 per cent at the block level.

Source: Channel News Asia, 5 Mar 2010