GENERAL ELECTION DETERMINES COUNTRY'S PROGRESS - S'PORE MINISTER MENTOR KUAN YEW

SINGAPORE, April 24 (Bernama) -- Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said that the results of past general elections from 1959 have got the country to where it is today.

He added that every general election "is a serious choice of the people", determining whether the country would move forward or backward.

On Saturday, Lee took the opportunity of the Tanjong Pagar Family Day to speak on the fundamentals of Singapore’s success.

They include the use of English as the first language and government policies that have ensured a mix of races in public flats.

Local television channel, Channel NewsAsia, reported that Lee, 87, had confirmed his candidacy for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituencies in the coming general election.

He said he first won his seat in Tanjong Pagar in May 1955 and had seen the constituency transform in three generations.

Touching on voters’ concerns over foreign workers, Lee said: "Please remember, we need the 900,000 foreign workers on two—year work permits."

He pointed out that "they do jobs that Singaporeans are not willing to do, and workers do not stay here permanently".