CHINESE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (Names in Hanyu Pinyin)

Dr Tan Cheng Bock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture, in line with the policy of promoting Mandarin and the use of Hanyu Pinyin names, will it not be appropriate for Chinese Members of Parliament to have their names in Hanyu Pinyin.

The Minister of State for Culture (Mr Fong Sip Chee) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture): Sir, let me restate the rationale of the Speak Mandarin Campaign.

Human resource is our premium asset. A population reasonably proficient in at least two languages is an advantage which nobody can deny. However, we must take care that raw emotions should never be allowed to cloud the issue and steer the campaign away from its declared objective.

This is a campaign aimed at the Chinese Singaporean community. Hon. Members must be aware that the multi-dialect-speaking environment among the Chinese community has been a serious hindrance to the study of the language by our pupils, including pupils in the Chinese schools.

The widespread use of numerous dialects has already led to the emergence of a Chinese patois, frequently incomprehensible even to those who unconsciously indulge in it. It compounds the difficulty in the study of the language and its proper usage and has, to a large extent, negated the Government's efforts in teaching the language.

It is for this reason that Hanyu Pinyin has been used to standardize the spelling of Chinese names as it will help to make the language environment more conducive for the use of Mandarin. A start has already been made in the schools.

Members of Parliament of Chinese descent, and indeed all Chinese Singaporean adults, are free to adopt Hanyu Pinyin names if they so wish. Those who have sentimental attachments to their names may want to continue using their dialect-transliterated names. Unlike children, they are more established in life or have been known by their dialect names for decades. They may not want to change them.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah): Sir, I asked a very simple question but I got a very complicated answer, Is the Minister of State for Culture aware that he has given the Members of Parliament an option, and may I ask whether this option can be extended to others?

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Sir, a long answer is unavoidable to a heavily loaded question. It is not a simple question as such. The option has always been open. Anybody who wishes to change his name into Hanyu Pinyin may do so. All he needs to do is a deed poll.