MDDI's Response to PQs on Dialect Film Screenings and Dialect Policy

Parliament Sitting on 7 July 2026

Question for Oral Answer

6 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what considerations led to the original decision to permit limited screenings of the film “Dear You” in its original Teochew version rather than subtitled wider screenings; and (b) what factors will guide the Ministry’s more flexible approach towards permitting future dialect film screenings.

7 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the Ministry will review the Film Classification Guidelines to allow Chinese dialect films, including the film “Dear You,” to have a general commercial release with their original audio instead of restricting them to niche screenings; (b) why foreign language films face no equivalent linguistic audio restrictions; and (c) whether the historical rationale for mandatory Mandarin dubbing remains relevant to Singapore.

8 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the Ministry will abolish the guideline that Chinese films for general release be in Mandarin and allow dialect films on general release in their original dialect with subtitles; and (b) whether the Speak Mandarin Campaign rationale for the guideline still applies, given that dialect use at home has fallen below 12%.

9 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the framework for classifying dialect-language films for general release includes any assessment of Intangible Cultural Heritage value; and (b) if not, whether the Ministry will work with the National Heritage Board to incorporate such an assessment.

10 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what factors are taken into account in Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA) decision for the film "Dear You" to be dubbed in Mandarin for general screening instead of the original Teochew version; (b) whether heritage and cultural preservation value formed part of the assessment; and (c) whether IMDA will consider giving greater weight to heritage and cultural preservation value in future assessments.

11 Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether the Ministry will consider reviewing its policy to liberalise or abolish its language requirements with respect to Chinese dialects for media such as films and theatre, since the bilingual policy has reduced the use of dialects to less than 0.8% of Chinese households.

12 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what is the percentage of households that primarily speak Chinese dialects at home today as compared to 1979 when the Speak Mandarin Campaign was launched; (b) whether the Government sees the need to review the relevance of the Chinese dialect policy in its current form; and (c) if so, what considerations will be taken into account in any such review.

44 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will consider reviewing its policies governing the theatrical exhibition of Chinese dialect films, including any restrictions that result in local original-language dialect films being accorded only limited screenings even as foreign-language films may be more widely exhibited; and (b) whether such policies remain aligned with Singapore's cultural heritage and ageing population objectives.

45 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether, where original-language dialect films are accorded only limited screenings, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will consider requiring that accessibility and geographic spread to be taken into account, so that elderly dialect-speaking patrons, including wheelchair users and their families, are not effectively denied access due to screenings being concentrated at a single venue or one with temporary accessibility constraints.

46 Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether the Ministry will consider reviewing its policy to permit a dedicated free-to-air radio channel to be set up for senior citizens that includes Chinese classics, evergreens and dialect songs.

Answer

Mr Speaker, my response will cover the questions raised by Mr Cai Yinzhou, Mr Gerald Giam, Mr Kenneth Tiong, Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Dennis Tan, Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Dr Neo Kok Beng in today’s Order Paper, as well as related questions by Mr Darryl David and Ms Mariam Jaafar for subsequent sittings. If Members are satisfied with the response, they may wish to withdraw their questions after this session.

Guidelines on language use in media are implemented by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).  They support the Government’s longstanding policy to promote Mandarin as one of four official languages and have generally served us well.  However, as noted in MCCY’s earlier reply today, Singapore’s language environment has evolved. Recognising this, in implementing the guidelines, IMDA has exercised greater flexibility to allow more dialect content in films.

Each year, around 30 to 40 dialect films are screened at film festivals.  At the same time, IMDA has allowed unrestricted screenings of films with substantial use of dialect such as “881”, “Long Long Time Ago” and “Wonderland”.  For the film “Dear You”, IMDA has approved a total of 272 screenings of the Teochew version, and is prepared to approve additional screenings should the film distributor request them in response to audience demand. 

Beyond these implementation changes, several Members have called for the guidelines themselves to be reviewed. We recognise that the circumstances have changed since the guidelines were first introduced.  There is therefore scope to consider how we can expand the space for dialects, while continuing to uphold the importance of Mandarin.  In doing so, we should also take into account the different media platforms. For example, there are no dialect restrictions for arts performances or content available on the internet and online streaming services.  On free-to-air television and radio, we believe that Mandarin should continue to be the mainstay. For cinemas, we are prepared to allow more screenings of dialect-language films, so as to provide audiences with greater access to such content. We appreciate the feedback from Members and will carefully consider what further steps are appropriate.