Race, housing key issues in Singapore elections

Race, housing key issues in Singapore elections

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Race and housing are key issues in today's
general election in Singapore after a campaign that featured
tough words and a row between the ruling People's Action Party
(PAP) and the United States.

The campaign peaked with a war of words between Workers' Party
candidate Tang Lian Hong and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, whose
PAP is guaranteed a majority with 47 uncontested seats in the 83-
member parliament.

Goh accused Tang of threatening racial harmony in Singapore --
nearly 80 percent ethnic Chinese, with minorities of Tamils and
Malays -- with views Goh described as "Chinese chauvinism".

Tang has said he would take legal action against Goh and
others in the PAP over their charges, but not until after the
election. Goh and PAP leaders say they will sue Tang if he does
not apologize ahead of the election for remarks he has made about
them.

There were brief racial riots in Singapore in 1965, shortly
before the country split from neighboring Malaysia, and Goh
raised the stakes by pitting his personal prestige in the battle
to keep Tang out of parliament.

The race row is an extension of the character card being
played strongly by the PAP.

`"Don't take chances. Vote for an honest, reliable and capable
MP," the party has said in a letter to voters.

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) leader, Chee Soon Juan, has
been targeted by the government as "a proven liar" and being
"guilty of deceit".

Goh got into a row with Washington over his message to voters
that they would lose out on subsidized housing renovation schemes
if they voted for the opposition.

The U.S. State Department criticized him for that and Goh,
along with his colleagues, fumed at what they called interference
in Singapore affairs.

While Goh has established the main issues, opposition leaders
hope that with the PAP already guaranteed power, voters feel bold
enough to choose alternative voices in parliament.

"We want the basic freedoms, to have the right to question our
government, to have it be accountable to us, to have a say in how
our country is run," Chee said in an interview.

First-time voters in a country where voting is compulsory for
all over the age of 21 appear to be responsive to this view, even
if they back the PAP.

"For me, I still believe in the PAP. There is more stability
and there is already a sense of trust," said Wixy Song, a 23-year
old student.

But, she added: "I still think the opposition is necessary,
for only if there is competition would there be improvement."

Personal well-being and the desire to raise living standards
are the main factors driving electors. While working people
complain Singapore is an increasingly expensive place to live in,
they also say they are better off than 10 years ago.

The SDP says between 1988 and 1993, income rose seven percent
while household spending jumped 76 percent, but the parliamentary
cost review committee says prices were only 14 percent higher
over the period.