Debated in Parliament on 25 Feb 2026.
Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for National Development in 2025 (a) how many appeals were received by HDB dwellers who faced difficulties selling their flats due to the Ethnic Integration Policy; (b) what were the success rates of such appeals; and (c) what percentage of such cases went through the buyback assistance by the Government.
The Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) is important for Singapore's racial harmony and cohesion in a multicultural society. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) provides a range of assistance measures for flat owners who face genuine difficulties selling their flats when EIP quotas have been reached. These include giving such owners more time to sell their existing flat if they have purchased another one, or in exceptional circumstances, waiving the EIP limits to allow them to sell their flat to buyers of any ethnic group. As a last resort, HDB may also buy back flats from eligible EIP-constrained flat owners if they have tried their best to sell their flat, but are unable to do so.
HDB acceded to 208 appeals, including helping five households via the buyback measure. The breakdown by ethnic group is in the table below.
As of 31 December 2025, HDB owns about 100 units that were bought back via the EIP buyback assistance measure or compulsorily acquired by HDB for other reasons. These units will be offered for sale progressively under the Sale of Balance Flats exercise and open booking of flats.
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