Singapore's decision to rear an English-fluent society has proven key to the island nation's success, said its founding father Lee Kuan Yew.

"Had we not chosen English, we would have been left behind," the 87-year-old said at a conference, according to Channel News Asia.

The nation of 5 million is largely made up of ethnically Chinese, Tamil and Malay citizens. After securing independence in 1965, Lee and fellow leaders decided that the former British colony should choose English as its lingua franca.

But these days, Singaporean teachers should accept that American English is "dominant" over U.K.-style English, Lee said, according to the Straits Times.

"I think the increasing dominance of the American media means that increasingly our people, teachers and students will be hearing the American version, whether it is 'potatoes' or 'tomatoes'. They will be the dominant force through sheer numbers and the dominance of their economy," said Lee, according to Channel News Asia.

Word up, lah