The Straits Times, Sept 8, 1979
MR LEE KUAN YEW made repeated pleas last night to Chinese parents to drop dialects at home and speak Mandarin to help lighten the learning load of their children.
In driving home this point, he departs several times from the text of his speech at the opening of the "Promote the use of Mandarin" campaign at the Singapore Conference Hall.
The choice for these parents, he said, is a stark one – English-Mandarin or English-dialect.
"Logically, the decision is obvious. Emotionally, I know it is painful. But as rational parents, I have little doubt that given some time, the right choice will be made," he added.
Once it is clear to the government that parents want their children to use Mandarin, a series of administrative measures will be taken to support their decision.
"All government officers, all government hospitals and clinics, all those manning counters will be instructed to speak Mandarin except to the old, those over 60," the Prime Minister told his audience of ministers, MPs, community leaders and others – and, via live telecasts over both channels as well as FM radio, the nation.
Mr Lee also made the point that learning and using Mandarin, apart from being culturally worthwhile, would also be economically useful because China, after successful implementation of its "Four Modernisations" programme in 20 years, would become a major trading partner -- accessible not through Hokkien but Mandarin.
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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