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Channel NewsAsia, 4 Dec 04

MM Lee dismisses all speculation of an early general election
By Asha Poptalal

SINGAPORE : Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has dismissed all speculation of an early general election. He said the new government had some work to do, such as letting the people feel the benefits of basic policies...before any general election can be called.

Mr Lee was speaking to reporters at the end of his four-day visit to the Thai capital. The new government under Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has only been in place for three-and-a-half months. But that has not stopped coffeeshop talk on the possibility of a general election coming up soon.

But Mr Lee feels differently. Mr Lee said: "I don't understand all this talk about a general election. The government has only been in office September, October and November, three-and-a-half months. What are we talking about? "It has some work to do to make sure everything is in position, basic policies are implemented and the people should feel some of the benefits of the basic policies and then go to elections. If you ask me, that is my position." But he says it is a decision the new generation will have to make.

On the new Central Executive Committee of the ruling People's Action Party announced on Thursday, Mr Lee said it was a mix of the old and new. "It is another transition towards a new generation. I would say this is a bridging period. In another three to four years, after the next elections you might find a completely new team. I don't think we want to go for the big bang, done well and moving in gradual steps."

Earlier, Mr Lee met Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and had praise for the country. He said Thailand was doing well, and is well-placed geographically for even better growth over the next few years. Mr Lee also stressed that Singapore has to make changes to stay competitive, even on policies that have remained the same for years as external environment changes.

He said while Singapore has been making changes socially - from bungee jumping to bar top dancing, as well as on policy issues like SIA and Singapore maintaining its air hub status - the upcoming change may well be on the question of a casino. But that decision will have to be a bet on the future.

Mr Lee said: "If it is 30 to 40 percent Singaporeans, and 60 to 70 percent foreigners, well then we are winners. But if we are 60 to 70 percent Singaporeans, I don't think we will be winners. "It is not a matter for me to decide now. If you ask me, I would be hard pressed, because the in-thing would be to say why change, at the same time, if you do not change, we may lose out.

"Do we want to be part of the modern world with casinos, maybe, with sufficient safeguards to make sure it does not eat into work ethics, and do not penetrate into our HDB heartlands?

"The people who now go to casinos or gamble at the race course, they will gamble anyway, they will go abroad, you can identify them by capital, their income, these fellows can be members, but those on the border line do not go in." - CNA

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