Source : The Straits Times, Jan 31, 2008
Author: John Mc, Henderson Lackey Bangalore, India
I FORMALLY made Singapore my adopted home and took up citizenship in 2006. I believe that my family and I will make many contributions. We are currently posted overseas and look forward to returning home in March.
Like all Singaporeans, we spent a considerable amount of time and money looking for the ideal place to call home, and found such a place in Pasir Ris. When we executed the purchase agreement late last month, there were no restrictions for the ‘Other’ racial group. However, to our dismay, when we went to register the sale with HDB early this month, we were rejected as applications under the ‘Other’ category had closed.
I broadly understand the aim of the national housing policy and the desire to ensure a good racial mix in an estate. However, one needs to look no farther than my family for an example of racial/ethnic diversity. I am a Caucasian who has lived in Asia for the past 12 years. My wife is Malaysian of Indian descent and we have a two-year-old daughter who was born in Hong Kong. I have two older children whose mother is Chinese.
We don’t fit a cookie-cutter definition of race and to simply categorise us as ‘Other’ overlooks our unique blend of race and culture.
I am proud to call Singapore my home but feel it is time for Singapore to recognise that in today’s world the traditional definitions of race/ethnicity no longer exist.
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Source : Straits Times - 16 Feb 2008
Policy aims for balanced ethnic mix in HDB estates
PLEASE refer to the letter by Mr John McHenderson Lackey, ‘Door shuts on flat applicant of ‘Other’ race’ (ST, Jan 31).
The Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) serves to achieve a balanced ethnic mix in HDB estates and prevent the formation of ethnic enclaves.
By providing HDB residents of different races with opportunities to interact as neighbours, the EIP fosters racial harmony among the various ethnic groups, and strengthens social cohesion in Singapore.
Under the policy, maximum proportions are set in a given HDB block or neighbourhood for the main ethnic groups - Chinese, Malays and Indian/Others.
For mixed-race couples or individuals with mixed parentage, the HDB may exercise flexibility by treating them under a more favourable ethnic category, where applicable. For instance, if the Malay quota has been reached, a Chinese-Malay couple can be considered under the Chinese category and still buy a unit in the given area.
Mr Lackey has expressed interest in buying a resale flat in Pasir Ris. However, the proportion of Indian/Others households in the block where he intended to buy had already reached the EIP limit on Jan 1.
It is unfortunate that Mr Lackey did not check with the HDB or visit the HDB website to check the EIP limit before he exercised the option to purchase on Jan 11 and submitted the resale application on Jan 18.
We regret we are unable to accept his application to buy the resale flat.
Mr Lackey may wish to consider other resale flats available in the open market, including those in Pasir Ris Town, which are not affected by the EIP limit on Indian/Others households.
Author: Loh Swee Heng Deputy Director (Resale) for Director (Estate Administration & Property ) Housing & Development Board
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