Pritam Singh’s proposal sparks debate, with netizens expressing growing support for a language proficiency requirement in citizenship applications.
SINGAPORE: Workers’ Party chief and Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, proposed an English proficiency test as part of the evaluation for Singapore citizenship and permanent residency applications, during Monday’s (Feb 27) debate in Parliament.
Singh raised the issue in the context of a proposed budget cut for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) during the Committee of Supply discussions. He pointed to the results of the latest Singapore Census, which indicated that 48.3% of the resident population spoke English most frequently at home, a significant increase from 32.3% just 10 years ago. Singh questioned whether a working proficiency in English should be a key criterion for citizenship to facilitate better integration between new citizens and Singaporeans, as English is the primary language of communication in the country.
In response, Second Minister for Home Affairs, Ms Josephine Teo, expressed concerns about the practicality of such a test. She suggested that individuals with lower English proficiency, such as spouses of foreign workers, may not benefit from this approach. Teo added that immigration policies currently consider multiple markers of social integration, including National Service completion and family ties to Singapore, alongside other factors like economic contributions and qualifications.
Teo also noted that there are many residents who do not speak English but are still considered fully integrated into Singaporean society. “Every day, we meet residents who cannot speak a word of English, and I don’t think anyone has suggested they are any less integrated into Singapore society,” she said.
Singh, in his speech, emphasized the importance of new citizens in addressing Singapore’s historically low fertility rate of 1.05. He stated that new citizens should not only seek the Singapore passport for convenience and wealth protection but should also be committed to living in Singapore long-term.
Teo was taken aback by Singh’s stance, explaining that for most applicants who have worked or lived in Singapore for several years, a facility with English is generally expected. She also mentioned that detailed statistics on permanent residents and new citizens are not disclosed due to concerns that such information could be misinterpreted or used to stir up domestic or bilateral tensions.
Netizens responding to a CNA report on the exchange largely sided with Singh’s position, expressing support for a proficiency test as an important step toward ensuring greater integration. However, some criticized Teo’s response, calling it out of touch with the realities faced by many residents. A few also acknowledged her concerns, noting the challenges of implementing such a policy fairly.
