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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_planning_and_policy_in_Singapore Officially, its ethnic composition is approximately 76.8% Chinese, 13.9% Malay, 7.9% Indian, while the remaining 1.4% are mainly Others, a miscellaneous category.[5] Given this diversity, the language policy in Singapore aims at cultivating amongst its citizens a bilingual proficiency in the English language and a mother tongue that is officially assigned to the specific ethnic communities. Although the English language is excluded from the list of official mother tongues (Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil), it is still recognised as an official language for practical reasons such as ensuring socio-economic mobility. Anybody you know can speak well bilingually or multilingually? Not that kind of glass half full half empty kind.

How do government bodies send out messages in 4 languages. is there an 'expert' in each language handling the translation? Anyway, anyone got more news on this? What was the translated version like. http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/vivan-balakrishnan-asks-nea-rectify-badly-translated-tam Vivan Balakrishnan asks NEA to rectify badly translated Tamil flyers 'as soon as possible' SINGAPORE - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has said that he has asked the National Environment Agency to rectify badly translated Tamil flyers "as soon as possible". The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources was replying to undergraduate J.S. Sasikumar's email regarding the flyer, which came attached with a photograph. The student, who stated that he is a member of the Tamil Language Society at the National University of Singapore, said in an email: "The Tamil text makes no sense whatsoever. It is as if the English text was put through an online translator to generate the Tamil translation." In response, Dr Balakrishnan thanked the student for highlighting the issue and added: "I totally agree with you on the need for accurate translations."