Singapore to hold general election amid worries of immigration, slowing economy

PHOTO: Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong says the election will be critical for deciding Singapore's future.

Singapore's parliament has been dissolved to prepare for a general election as prime minister Lee Hsien Loong seeks a fresh mandate from voters worried over immigration and the high cost of living in a slowing economy.

The People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled for more than 50 years with a mix of strict political controls and rapid economic progress, is widely expected to keep its overwhelming majority in the 89-seat parliament because of a fragmented opposition.

But the party will be under pressure to improve on its worst electoral performance in 2011, when it won 60 per cent of votes — its lowest-ever share — despite retaining 80 seats in a block-voting system.

The election, to be held on September 11, will be Singapore's first poll without the prime minister's influential father, independence leader Lee Kuan Yew, who died in March.

Singapore's rapid transformation

For a nation that has been around for just half a century, Singapore has transformed very quickly in a relatively short time, writes Shivali Nayak.

By law a general election must be held within three months of parliament's dissolution by the country's president.

The prime minister, who had until January 2017 to hold an election, sought support in a televised address on Sunday.

"This election will be critical. You will be deciding who's governing Singapore for the next five years, but much more than that ... you will be setting the direction for Singapore for the next 50 years, you will be determining the future for Singapore," he said.

Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence on August 9 with a massive parade which highlighted its rapid economic development and stability under PAP rule.