PM Lee expects strong support from voters when polls are cal
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PM Lee expects strong support from voters when polls are called
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday he expected strong support from voters when elections are called.
But the situation is likely to be different from the polls in 2001 which took place immediately after September 11, and saw the ruling party get a strong 75 per cent of the votes.
Mr Lee said this in response to a question at the Foreign Correspondents Association lunch on whether recent issues like the casino and NKF debates might see an erosion of support.
It was the first time Mr Lee was addressing the association as Prime Minister.
And he tackled a wide-ranging number of issues from the Bali bombings to the gay population and integrated casinos to the timing of the general elections.
Mr Lee said: "I have no doubt that when we go, we will have a strong support and win strong mandate but I would say that previous elections in 2001 were what we would hope to be truly exceptional circumstances - just after the Sept 11 bombings."
"There was general alarm bordering on panic around the world and we went at that moment and people gave us resounding votes 75 per cent - those are exceptional circumstances. I am not hoping to have such a situation when I call elections."
But, as usual, Mr Lee remained coy on the timing of the elections which have to be called by mid-2007.
As for what he hopes to be most proud of by the end of his tenure, he said the challenge was to build for his time and beyond.
And that would depend on the people and values they share.
PM Lee said: "We have to master the art of keeping the relevant parts and letting the new generation fly with their experiences."
In the end, Mr Lee said, Singapore is an improbable nation.
But it made it by always evolving, anticipating trends and maintaining its competitiveness. - CNA /ch
Morale of story: Vote for PAP or else..... -
Even if you dun vote, they'll still win
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do we see corruption here.......