The comments by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, a former prime minister, indicated that the People's Action Party is stepping up preparations for parliamentary elections that some analysts believe could be called within months.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong must hold elections by mid-2007, but government leaders have made regular references to the polls, suggesting they could come much sooner. The ruling party, which has never lost an election, is expected to dominate the tiny, fragmented opposition.

"When Prime Minister Lee goes to the polls, he will be riding the crest of a growing, strong economy," Goh said during a visit to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce. His comments were reported by Channel NewsAsia, a television news station.

Goh said the ruling party was looking for candidates under 40 years old who speak English and Mandarin, and understand Chinese culture. Singapore is predominantly ethnic Chinese, but English is widespread in the cosmopolitan city-state.

"To find bicultural candidates is not easy," he said. "Why do we need them? Because we must signal that we believe in nurturing, fostering the Chinese language and culture, and if at the elections, we can't afford to field one who is of that mode, then we are just speaking words and no action."

Separately, NewsRadio 93.8 quoted Lee as saying it was unlikely that he would call an election before the parliamentary debate on the national budget. Lee will present a new budget on Feb 17.

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