A changed world makes next polls tougher: PM

Speaking at the appreciation dinner for retired Members of Parliament (MPs) on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the People's Action Party (PAP) must expect a much tougher fight in the next General Election, as by 2011, the world and Singapore would have changed.

The Prime Minister said that his party was already starting to look for new candidates for the 2011 election, adding that the second line of leaders should be preparing to take over, while a third one forms.

The former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Tan Soo Khoon, also added, asking the new MPs to respect the "views of those who disagree", and asked the Government to "smile" at itself when confronted with "gentle" jibes.

"So even now as we call on every Singaporean to put on a wide grin come September for our visitors, we too can learn to smile at ourselves, if some choose to poke gentle fun at us."