SINGAPORE GEARING UP FOR ELECTION

SINGAPORE, March 21 (Bernama) -- Singapore is once again gearing up for the
election with both the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and the opposition
readying themselves for the polls.

On Monday, the PAP introduced its first batch of new candidates for the
polls, due in February next year.

"In total, the PAP intends to introduce more than 20 new candidates from
diverse backgrounds," the party's Second Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy
Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was quoted as saying by Channel NewsAsia.

Teo said that the party would have a mix of experienced and newer candidates
in every election.

Although Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose PAP has governed the
city-state since 1959, need not call for an election before February, there
have been talks that he may call for an early polls, taking advantage of the
city-state's strong economic performance.