Goh believes his party will win S'pore elections<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Agencies): Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
\nexpressed confidence yesterday that his People's Action Party
\n(PAP) would win a majority in parliament even before the first
\nvote is cast in upcoming general elections.<\/p>\n
Goh, 55, told journalists during a constituency visit that he
\ndid not expect the fragmented opposition to be able to field more
\nthan 40 candidates in the race for 83 seats in parliament.<\/p>\n
Political parties are scheduled to unveil their final lineups
\ntoday when they hand in their applications to contest the polls
\nwidely expected in the first week of January. The elections can
\nbe held as early as nine days afterwards.<\/p>\n
Goh, who is to announce election day after the nomination
\nexercise, slated for today, said he believed the opposition would
\nbe unable to contest all seats because of \"quarrels\" between
\nrival parties and the reluctance of candidates to join them.<\/p>\n
But Goh cautioned voters to exercise their franchise with care
\nin parliamentary wards that will witness a contest, Channel Five
\ntelevision said.<\/p>\n
Today's announcement of the polling date will end an
\nagonizingly long guessing game over the timing of the exercise
\nwhose outcome has never been in doubt.<\/p>\n
Election rumors have periodically surfaced in the wealthy and
\ntightly governed island since 1995, and Goh kept the public
\ntantalized and the opposition on hold.<\/p>\n
The government finally announced on Dec. 16 that parliament
\nhad been dissolved -- but left the election date blank.<\/p>\n
\"The reason why I did not announce the polling date early is
\nbecause when you go into battle, you must have the element of
\nsurprise,\" Goh told journalists after visiting an opposition-held
\nconstituency on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The PAP has unveiled its lineup and manifesto, but opposition
\nparties -- led by the Singapore Democratic Party which held three
\nseats and the Workers' Party with one -- have not disclosed their
\nfull casts.<\/p>\n
Unlike in other countries, the opposition in Singapore has not
\nraised corruption as an issue against the government, whose
\nhighly-paid ministers are rated by independent analysts as the
\ncleanest politicians in Asia.<\/p>\n
Analysts say criticism would focus on the strict political
\ncontrols and rising cost of living in the city-state, whose per-
\ncapita income now stands at more than US$25,000, higher than in
\nsome West European countries.<\/p>\n
Goh said in a dialog with university students over the weekend
\nthat a survey among young Singaporeans showed that their gripes
\nincluded \"too many rules, laws and fines, no freedom ...\"<\/p>\n
Singapore has known only two prime ministers since gaining
\nself-rule from Britain in 1959. It became a republic after
\nseparating from the Malaysian federation in 1965.<\/p>\n
Goh's still influential predecessor Lee Kuan Yew, who now
\nholds the title Senior Minister and serves as a roving
\nambassador, was in power for 31 years until stepping down in
\nGoh's favor six years ago.<\/p>\n
Lee, 73, is expected to seek reelection as an MP despite two
\noperations this year to clear up a clogged coronary artery.<\/p>",
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