My position regarding language use in Singapore is same as Tan
Liang Hong:
I
have never [been] opposed to learning
English."
By knowing only English, and not
knowing Chinese language, Chinese people miss out on the richness
of culture that might be available to
them.
This loss helps no
one.
"The Chinese stand to lose by not
knowing his own language and culture," Tang
says.
"Their loss is not a gain to the
other races."
There will still be a role for english in Singapore, maybe as
secondary language or something else.
English speakers like the peranakans - Tony Tan, Lee Hsien
Loong, Harry Lee Kuan Yew etc, their mother tongue english won't be
suppressed. English won't be annihilated from this island. There
will still be english.
But english cannot be the dominant language. That is not
logical, despite all the PAP propaganda.
No minorities will suffer, all languages, all cultures will be
respected. There will be no suppression or repression of any
culture or language, although some necessary adjustments like
de-westernisation, de-anglicisation will take place.
Since all these western and anglo elements of Singapore society
are alien imports, I think their root will be weak and there should
be no big problems regarding de-westernisation,
de-anglicisation.
Singapore will have to rely on its own local, native cultures
and not on alien imports.
A stronger national state will be the only result of such a
policy.