Written answer by Ministry of National Development on the bidding criteria for HDB rental coffeeshops

Oct 15, 2025

Question No. 505

Question by: Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

Question  

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) whether the bidding criteria for HDB rental coffeeshops requiring one halal stall distinguish between Malay and Indian Muslim food providers; and (b) whether the Price-Quality Method (PQM) framework may be refined to place greater weight on Malay-Muslim food providers, given the relatively greater proportion of Malays to Indian Muslims in the population.

Answer

Since 2005, for all new or vacant HDB rental coffeeshops, operators are required to provide at least one halal stall. This ensures that residents have convenient access to halal food, and that HDB coffeeshops remain inclusive social spaces that cater to residents of all ethnicities. Should any halal stallholder cease operations, HDB requires the coffeeshop operator to find a replacement within the tenancy period.

The requirement to provide at least one halal stall does not distinguish between the type of cuisine served. We have a variety of halal cuisines in our HDB heartlands, including Malay, Indian, Chinese, Western, and Japanese. The coffeeshop operators or stallholders can decide on the type of cuisine they wish to serve, so as to best meet local demand.

In Sengkang town, there are 19 HDB rental coffeeshops. Two of these are fully halal coffeeshops where all of their stalls provide halal options. Another 14 are coffeeshops with halal stalls providing a variety of options, eight Indian-Muslim stalls, five Malay-Muslim stalls, and three Western Halal stalls. The remaining three halal stalls ceased operations this year. HDB is working with the operators to ensure that replacements are found as soon as possible.

Apart from HDB coffeeshops, residents are also served by halal food options in nearby hawker centres, food courts and shopping malls.