MOM DECLINED TO REVEAL NUMBER OF FOREIGN DEPENDENTS?

349,000 E & S-Pass holders

According to the Straits Times news report “MOM’s rule change ‘won’t affect hiring’” (Jul 23) – “There are about 179,000 people on Employment Passes (EPs) and 170,000 on S Passes.

Declined to reveal DPs & LTVPs?

The MOM declined to say how many of them are currently sponsoring their families here on DPs and LTVPs.”

Now, why did “the MOM declined to say how many of them are currently sponsoring their families here on DPs and LTVPs”?

Shouldn’t this be public information?

DPs& LTVPs to PRs& citizens?

Let us not forget that DPs and LTVPs are not just issued to families of foreigners. They are also issued to PRs, new citizens and citizens.

348,654 new PRs, 153,923 new citizens

In this connection, a total of 348,654 new PRs and 153,923 new citizens were granted from 2007 to 2014.

Very old statistics – from 2005 to 2010?

As to “The last time such data was disclosed was in 2012. Then Manpower Minister TharmanShanmugaratnam said in a reply to a Parliamentary question that the Government issued an average of 35,000 DPs and LTVPs each year to foreigners on EP between 2005 and 2010″– aren’t these statistics very old – its now 2015 and we are talking about 2010 data – 5 years ago!

210,000 DPs& LTVPs to foreigners on EP from 2005 to 2010? 

If it was a whopping about 210,000 (35,000 x 6 years) DPs and LTVPs to foreigners on EP alone – can’t imagine what the grand total may be if we add the number from 2010 to now!

?? DPs& LTVPs to PRs& citizens?

Also, these “very old” statistics seem to be on “DPs and LTVPs each year to foreigners on EP” only. What about DPs and LTVPs to the families of PRs, new citizens and citizens?

What is the trend like in recent years?

Increasing numbers?

“Declined to reveal” may be “more revealing”?

Perhaps sometimes when we decline to reveal statistics – they may actually be more revealing?

Win battles lose war

A.S.S. Contributor