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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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