Lee wants to see

Lee wants to see
one-man-two votes

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has
again raised the prospect of changing the voting system in the
island republic to "some-men-two-votes", according to a report in
the main local newspaper yesterday.

The Sunday Times, quoting an interview between Singapore
reporters and Lee conducted at the end of his visit to Australia
in April, said the Senior Minister believed the government should
consider giving married men aged between 35 and 60 years, with
families, an one extra vote.

"It is not necessary to change the system at present. But,
later, we may have to give more weighting to the people whose
views should carry more weight because their contributions are
greater, and their responsibilities are greater," said Lee.
"We should consider giving those between the ages of 35 and 60,
married and with families, one extra vote," he said.
Lee said the time period for such a change was over the next 15
to 20 years.

Lee believes the change will be needed by early next century
because declining birth rates would mean the population of
Singapore will comprise a greater number of retired people aged
over 60.