We refer to the letter “No need for letters in four languages” from Ms Seah Siew Hoon published on 22 Dec 2012. 

The Baby Bonus scheme is a benefit for parents from all walks of life. Generally, our letters to parents are in English. The use of four languages, based on the four major ethnic groups in Singapore, is confined to letters announcing changes to the scheme. This is to ensure that all parents understand the implication of the changes, especially where they are required to make a decision. 

We thank Ms Seah for her feedback. We will review our correspondences to make them more concise and to reduce the usage of printing material. 

Ms Carol Chua 
Director, Family Services
Ministry of Social and Family Development