PRs own under 5% of flats
By Jeremy Au Yong
Mr Mah said PRs were already subjected to the same rules as Singaporeans, and that includes the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP). -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
PERMANENT residents occupy less than 5 per cent of all Housing Board flats, and are living in estates across the island.
Nevertheless, the Government will keep an eye on the situation to ensure that no PR and foreigner enclaves develop.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said this when responding to Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC). Dr Lim wanted to know the distribution of PRs across Housing Board estates, as well as whether the Government would consider expanding the current ethnic quota scheme to include PRs.
Mr Mah said PRs were already subjected to the same rules as Singaporeans, and that includes the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP).
'The EIP was introduced to achieve a healthy racial mix in HDB estates and prevent the formation of ethnic enclaves, regardless of whether they are citizens or PRs,' he said. As of June 30 this year, PRs owned 42,800 flats - or just 4.9 per cent of the nearly 900,000 HDB flats islandwide.
While public housing policies are for the benefit of Singaporeans, Mr Mah stressed that PRs also needed a place to live: 'PR families are not eligible for housing subsidies that Singaporeans enjoy. They are not allowed to buy a new flat from HDB or enjoy any housing grant. However, PRs need to have a home in Singapore. Therefore, they are allowed to buy properties from the open market, including HDB resale flats.'
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment