SPEAK MANDARIN CAMPAIGN (Extension to non-Chinese)

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Information and the Arts whether the target and reach of the Speak Mandarin Campaign will be extended to the non-Chinese in view of the economic importance of Mandarin.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: The objective of the Speak Mandarin Campaign has always been, and will continue to be, to encourage Chinese Singaporeans to speak Mandarin. All Singaporeans should be encouraged to speak their mother tongues. The purpose is not to have Mandarin replace English or the languages of the other communities. If any non-Chinese Singaporean wishes to learn Mandarin for its economic importance, that is fine. We should encourage him or her as we would Singaporeans who learn German, French or Japanese.