TR EMERITUS

Ministers to admit that thousands of immigrants were involved in English language test fraud (24 Jun) - Around 45,000 immigrants have fraudulently obtained English language certificates, ministers will admit later today. James Brokenshire, the Immigration Minister, will make an urgent statement to the Commons on the results of an investigation into allegations that fraudsters were sitting language tests on behalf of migrants. Around 45,000 people fraudulently obtained language certificates despite being unable to speak English, sources said. In February the Home Office suspended English language tests used to award student visas run by ETS, a major testing firm. An investigation was launched to establish the scale of any wrong-doing. It followed secret filming by Panorama that showed candidates for tests set by ETS were being replaced by fake sitters from immigration consultancies in exchange for fees of up to £500 – three times the official cost of the test... The BBC programme sent non-EU students - who were already in the UK legally - undercover. They posed as bogus students with poor English, who wanted to remain in the UK to work illegally. They were told they simply had to have their photograph taken at the test centre as proof they were there – while a “fake sitter” took the spoken and written English computer tests. In other cases, exam invigilators were filmed reading out the correct answers to a multiple choice English language exam, allowing the class to complete the two-hour test in seven minutes. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, described the allegations as “very shocking”. The test was introduced top curb the high numbers of people coming to Britain on student visas, but who went on to take low-skilled jobs.   More in: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10922091/45000-immigrants-cheated-English-tests.html  Read More →

Mr Daniel Koh Kah Soon made a well-reasoned exhortation for Singaporeans to take on "the responsibility to reflect, and then articulate our concerns calmly, using all the available channels to... garner support and hopefully win the argument for a better political agenda" ("The responsibility to reflect and speak up"; last Saturday). His call is more applicable for the well-informed and articulate who can weigh all sides of an issue to arrive at a balanced conclusion and express it well. In reality, many do not have this competence but still want their voices heard in the public sphere. An example is the plea of retiree Irene Yap to withdraw her Central Provident Fund (CPF) money ("Questions and more questions on CPF"; June 15). Going through the proper channels had left her frustrated, but she used the dialogue with her MP to get her story out till it reached the Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health ("Amy Khor clears air on retiree's CPF claim"; last Saturday). My experience using legitimate channels to get my town council to better maintain cleanliness in my estate has been frustrating. I have written often to the town council and my MP, and have tapped feedback channels. The replies have been polite, acknowledging that my complaints are valid and promising to look into them. But real systemic improvements have not taken place. When legitimate channels are unhelpful, many resort to anti-establishment websites and forums. There, they may find empathetic ears even for their half-incubated arguments based on warped logic. Unless proper channels for articulating citizens' voices work effectively, less desirable channels will flourish. Seto Hann Hoi (Dr) * Letter first appeared in ST Forum, 26 Jun, "Improve feedback channels".  Read More →

Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Kishore Mahbubani I refer to the 3 Jun 2014 Straits Times report “Experts identify 45 ‘sacred’ heritage sites”. Straits Times credited the identification of 45 sacred sites and buildings deemed worthy of conservation by heritage experts and architects to a suggestion by Professor Kishore Mahbubani in his 10 May 2014 Straits Times column “Prepare for a political crisis”. Straits Times also reported Professor Mahbubani quoting from Professor Joel Kotkin. But Straits Times had already reported Professor Kotkin’s call to conserve lesser known historic buildings in its 9 Apr 2014 report “Retain more heritage buildings, key spaces”. Earlier still on 22 Mar 2014, Straits Times introduced Professor Kotkin’s working paper “What is a City For?” and reported nominated MP Janice Koh mentioning that paper in parliament. Instead of crediting Professor Kotkin, the original caller for the conservation of such places or Janice Koh for taking the issue to the parliament, Straits Times ended up crediting Professor Mahbubani. It is the same with Singapore’s post independence economy which followed the report “A Proposed Industrialization programme for Singapore” written by Dr Albert Winsemius and his team from the United Nations but people end up crediting LKY instead. Thank you.   Ng Kok Lim Straits Times, Experts identify 45 'sacred' heritage sites. Their suggestions follow call for a list to help foster love for country, 3 Jun 2014 The first has played witness to many a speech at Speakers' Corner, the second is a well-known hawker centre from the 1970s to which tourists flock for a taste of local cuisine, while the third - Shuang Long Shan Ancestral Hall in Holland Close - tells the story of early Singapore immigrants. These are just three of 45 structures, sites and buildings that heritage experts and architects here believe are worthy of conservation and can be seen as "sacred". Their suggestions come after Professor Kishore Mahbubani, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, called for working out a list of places Singaporeans treasure and declaring them national shrines as a way to foster love for the country. He suggested the Botanic Gardens, East Coast Park and old Chinatown. The Straits Times, which has launched an online poll to piece together Singapore's top 10 favourite and sacred spaces, is inviting members of the public to vote for their top three structures and top three sites. They can also share their own suggestions and comments via the webpage http:// bit.ly/1lXRs4C from today until next Tuesday. The votes will be consolidated and featured in a Sunday Times package in the coming weeks. Prof Kishore wrote a commentary last month called "Prepare for a political crisis", in which he suggested cultivating faith in Singapore's key institutions, strengthening the multiracial fabric and fostering a love for the nation. He called for 2015 - the Republic's golden jubilee - to be a year of "defining and expanding sacred objects and places in Singapore" so as to build a country rich in memories, which we would call home and readily defend. Professor Kishore quoted Joel Kotkin, an urban geographer from the United States who has identified three great characteristics of cities: the safe, busy and sacred. Professor Kotkin said the Republic has excelled in security and commerce but lacks in the last quality. He called for more attention to be paid to the sacred which he defined as any unique institution or place "that (makes) one feel an irrational commitment to a place". Heritage experts feel his suggestion is timely. The experts who contributed to the list include Singapore Heritage Society secretary and conservation architect Yeo Kang Shua, architects Chang Yong Ter, Lim Huck Chin and Tia Boon Sim; heritage enthusiast and blogger Jerome Lim, and civic group founder Kwek Li Yong. Said Mr Kwek: "If we want to create a country that Singaporeans can identify with, we need to pinpoint and pull out such spaces, rediscover them and save them before they are swept away by redevelopment."  Read More →