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Comment by rajin444 | Hacker News Reader

> When I lived there a while back the shock to me was the “What nationality are you?”

Why do they feel the need to ask that question? Are issues with people of specific nationality more prevalent?

Anecdote from when I lived there: Some landlords would prefer not to have Indian tenants to avoid them stinking the kitchen out as they often cook very aromatic food.

Nothing different than what I encountered who don't like Chinese students tenants because we like to cook ourself, and Chinese cooking uses stir frying a lot which causes a lot of smell...

Most kitchens are not equipped to deal with it. Over time the oil particles build up and coat everything in a near impenetrable layer.

I was renting an apartment in Portugal, and the landlord said me the same thing. I love curry, It didn't bother me, but sounds like an issue.

My wife is Singaporean with Indian heritage, and from what she's told me I think it's because Chinese Singaporeans don't like Indians.

from my short experience living in Hong Kong and travelling the region a bit.. there is a common, daily practice of identifying people by race and language, that is explicitly discouraged or illegal in the USA

Racial quotas also exist to my knowledge for some residence communities.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Singapore has racial quotas for public housing (where most of the population lives) and the reason is to prevent ethnic enclaves from forming. https://www.gov.sg/article/hdbs-ethnic-integration-policy-wh...

you're very far down for someone that has absolutely the most precise reason...

It only applies to purchasing a resell flat. Renters are not affected by this.

I recall seeing signs in windows like "Staff needed, Malays need not apply" etc

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