Left: Tan Min Yi is a Senior Manager seconded to the Income Security Policy Division at MOM. She is a recipient of the MDDI Information Service Scholarship. She holds a Bachelor in International Relations and International Literary and Visual Studies from Tufts University, as well as a Master in Digital Communication and Culture from the University of Sydney.
Right: Mabel Soh is an Assistant Manager (Translation) at MDDI. She is a recipient of the MDDI Information Service (Translation) Scholarship. She holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies from Nanyang Technological University and a Master of Science in Translation and Technology (Audiovisual) from University College London.
As digital connectivity grows, the need for clear and timely government communication has never been greater. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) is at the heart of this endeavour, ensuring that Singaporeans stay informed and engaged with public policies.
Behind this important work are MDDI Scholars Tan Min Yi and Mabel Soh. Min Yi is a Senior Manager at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), where she plays a key role in shaping Central Provident Fund (CPF)-related policies through a lens of strategic public communications. Mabel, on the other hand, is an Assistant Manager in the MDDI Translation Department, where she translates and proofreads public communication materials, ensuring that they remain accessible to all Singaporeans.
We spoke with the duo to learn how the MDDI Scholarship has paved the way for their fulfilling and meaningful careers.
Let’s go back to how your journey with MDDI began! What inspired you to apply for the scholarship?
Min Yi: Since primary school, I’ve loved storytelling and communicating ideas and concepts to others.
Government communications is a vast field, spanning research and data to citizen partnerships and beyond. I was fascinated by the scope and depth of work in this area and this inspired me to apply for the MDDI Information Service Scholarship.
Mabel: When I was younger, I enjoyed many translated works without even realising they were translations. For instance, in Taiwan, I watched “Dora the Explorer” in Mandarin, where she taught her viewers English—only to later discover that the original version had Dora speaking English and teaching her viewers Spanish!
During my time in junior college, I participated in the Nanyang Research Programme at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where I conducted independent research on common public translation mistakes in Singapore. This experience was a pivotal moment as it made me realise that good translation should not be taken for granted—it is not something just anyone can do, but rather a skill I could offer.
I also remember a brief presentation about the MDDI scholarships given by the then-Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) to my H2 Translation class. This exposure helped to further solidify my decision to pursue the MDDI Information Service (Translation) Scholarship.
How has the scholarship provided you with avenues for growth?
Min Yi: As Information Officers, we rotate through various functions of government communications across different government agencies. We also have the opportunity to take on concurrent roles and participate in workgroups focused on emerging issues. This gives me firsthand experience in various facets of government communications and allows me to see how the various functions work together as part of a larger ecosystem.
Mabel: The scholarship has opened doors I never thought possible. The idea of pursuing a master’s degree overseas had never crossed my mind, but with the support of the scholarship, I was able to realise this goal at University College London. Learning about translation in the Western world and interacting with classmates who bring unique experiences has given me a fresh perspective compared to what I usually see in Asia.
For example, I was introduced to intersemiotic translation for media accessibility, such as audio descriptions for the blind and partially sighted, and subtitles for the d/Deaf—practices that are common in Europe and the United Kingdom. However, these accessibility provisions are less prevalent in Singapore. Having learnt how to write and produce these during my studies, I am now in a position to contribute to this area of translation in Singapore.
Mabel, could you share what your day-to-day work looks like?
I am part of the Centre of Excellence for the National Translation Committee (NTC), and I also contribute to one of the technology teams. In addition to project-related work, we handle ad-hoc translation requests from other government agencies or MDDI departments.
For translation work, each vernacular language team—covering Chinese, Malay, and Tamil—handles requests both from and into English. We frequently translate and proofread public communication materials, such as surveys, posters, letters, subtitles and WhatsApp push messages. It is important for us to ensure that these public communication materials are accessible to citizens, particularly those who may not be proficient in English, such as the elderly.
Min Yi, you’ve had quite the journey with different roles across various agencies! Can you share more about your experiences and what has been the highlight so far?
I’ve had the opportunity to work across various roles, including stints at MDDI Headquarters, where I contributed to Whole-of-Government marketing communications campaigns, digital and online communications, and media analytics and operations.
I then moved to the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, working on media relations, before transitioning to my current role at MOM.
All major announcements or programmes are a result of strong teamwork. For example, when you are the speechwriter for a Minister’s address, it is not a one-man show but a collaborative process where everyone plays a vital role in shaping what goes out to the public for posterity.
It was enriching to be involved in major policy reviews, such as the closure of the Special Account for members aged 55 and above (announced at Budget 2024). I was part of the Multi- Ministerial Task Force press conferences during COVID-19, as well as contributing to various marcomms pieces where we worked together to make public messaging dynamic, fun and impactful.
Lastly, what advice would you give students considering an MDDI scholarship?
Min Yi: Opportunities will continue to evolve as the nature of work and our operating environment changes. Beyond existing opportunities in media relations, marketing communications, citizen partnership and engagement, if there is a specific aspect of government communications work that you’re very keen on, do speak to the MDDI HR folks!
Mabel: For those considering applying for an MDDI scholarship, you can receive funding for your education, whether studying locally or stepping out of your comfort zone to pursue your study overseas. You will also have the chance to do internships at MDDI to familiarise yourself with its functions before returning for full- time work. More importantly, you’ll meet like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about languages and translation.
