The Singapore government is pressing to overcome a predisposition towards Singlish -- a bewildering mix of English, Chinese, Malay and Indian dialects -- which Lee described as a local dialect understood only by Singaporeans.

"English is the common language of global business, commerce and technology, and the Internet has further strengthened this pre-eminent role," he said in officially launching Singapore's Speak Good English campaign.

"Because our language habits are in transition, we must make a special effort to get people to speak standard English."

In the multi-racial former British colony there are four official languages -- English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil -- with Singlish seen by many as an integral part of their identity.

But Lee warned that to give up mother tongues to only learn Singlish would make the country worse off.

"Our mother tongues carry with them values, ancient cultural heritages and a sense of identity," he said.

"To lose some of this, because we need to speak standard English, an international language of business and science, is painful, but it is a rational trade-off to make.

"But it does not make sense to replace our mother tongues by a Singapore English dialect which is unintelligible to the rest of the world," he said.

Citing statistics showing the dominance of English on the Internet and in international organisations, Lee said Singaporeans needed to speak a form of English that was readily understood by people all over the world.

"Even if the present adult generation cannot be completely at home with the English language, their efforts to speak proper English will impress on the next generation the importance of mastering good, standard English, and the younger ones can do better."

This is Singapore's second Speak Good English promotion which has seen increased emphasis on English language in schools and special training for teachers who teach English to upgrade their skills.

Even Phua, the lead character in a popular local television comedy Phua Chu Kang has been forced to undertake remedial English classes to overcome his trademark Singlish.

When the campaign was launched Apr 3 the Associated Press reported David Wong, chairman of the Speak Good English Movement, saying: "It's been becoming patriotic, or more 'Singaporean,' to try and speak badly. That's what we're trying to cut out."

Many young Singaporeans feel affectionate toward the colorful pidgin and its bawdy, often hilarious slang terms, many of which are puns playing on Chinese words. Three quarters of Singapore's four million people are ethnic Chinese.

Singlish "is part of the search for a Singaporean identity," said Wong, leader of the Speak Good English movement.

The Speak Good English movement is one of several government initiatives in Singapore that strike some critics as Orwellian. Other campaigns include a Kindness Movement and a media campaign to encourage educated Singaporeans to have more kids.

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong last year warned that affluent Singapore could lose out if vital foreign investors and multinational company executives face a brand of English they don't understand.

Goh's remarks prompted an all-out campaign with TV and radio spots, posters and plays urging people to speak proper English.