Learning dialects will add to our children's burden ?

In recent MM Lee's speech about the learning Mandarin campaign, it was noted that learning dialects will add burden to the children ! Read here.

Well, I beg to differ. Even the Chinese back in China who suppose to be the benchmark for the standard of Mandarin, they do speak dialects back in their hometown. Do they get interfered with their ability to speak Mandarin due to their dialects ?

I guess his comments does draw some comments from the public with a disapproval mindset as well. Check that out :

• Shame to let dialects die out in Singapore
• Dialects are part of our culture

Video clips of MM Lee's speech :

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3