Forum: A good reason for official languages being spoken in Parliament
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Manpower Minister Tan See Leng’s quote in Cantonese – taken from a Hong Kong movie – during the recent parliamentary debate has drawn public attention, in places even as far as Hong Kong and China.
While his speech drew laughter from certain sections of the House, others, including Chinese and non-Chinese not familiar with Cantonese, appeared confused. This confusion continued when Mr Tan declined the Speaker’s request to translate the sentences.
Given the legal and political gravity, it is crucial to ensure clarity, accuracy and fairness of the proceedings and documentation in the Hansard. I would like to know whether the use of dialects or non-official languages is permitted in the Chamber.
According to the parliamentary regulations, a member may speak in English, Mandarin, Malay or Tamil, and simultaneous interpretation is provided to facilitate understanding by all members.
Will Mr Tan’s example set a precedent that may potentially create difficulty in communication and translation when speeches are peppered with non-official languages?
Having four official languages in Parliament levels the linguistic playing field for debates in multicultural Singapore, letting them be understood by all Singaporeans. Let’s keep it that way.
Liew Kai Khiun
