Singapore's leading newspaper, the pro-government Straits Times, said today that Goh's appeal to the party faithful was sure to fuel speculation that elections could be held before the August 2002 schedule.

It's stablemate, the Business Times, said earlier in the week "it is widely expected" there will be an early election, but provided no evidence.

Political analysts, however, said there was no obvious reason to advance the date of the next ballot.

PAP has been unchallenged as Singapore's ruling power since statehood was established in 1965, and in the last election it won 81 of the 83 seats, most of them uncontested.

Goh, at a weekend party congress, rallied his forces to draw up their election manifesto spelling out the party's vision for Singapore in the next 10 years.

He urged them to start going to the grassroots to explain the party's programmes.

While the prime minister did not say outright he would call an early general election, he did tell the PAP rank-and-file to make early preparations.

"The next election will not be for some time yet. But do not wait till I call the GE (general elections) before you start working on the ground. Do so now," he said.

But despite Goh's urgings, a veteran Singapore political analyst who did not wish to be named said he doubted the government would call early polls.

"I don't think there will be an early one. I think the earliest will be the end of next year," he told AFP today.

The government would wait until it has fully restored an employees' provident fund, slashed by 50 percent at the height of the Asian financial crisis, and refurbished government-built housing flats before elections are held, he said.

Outspoken political scientist James Gomez said the timing of elections in Singapore was irrelevant as the electoral process favoured PAP.

"Whether they are held early or late is not going to have a difference because the fundamental problems with the electoral process remain," he said.

"It is common knowledge here that elections do not a democracy make. So to focus on that as a gauge for a renewal of political leadership and trying to be in sync with the changes and needs of the people is flawed," he told AFP.

Goh has belittled any challenge from the opposition, but analysts said the ruling party was in for a rougher ride in the future, although inroads into their powerbase would be limited.

Younger and better-educated Singaporeans were prepared to make their views known, and discontent is seething among older, poorer and less educated Singaporeans displaced by the nation's jump into the Internet economy, they said.

"I think there will be a tougher fight in 2002," the first analyst said. "I'm sure they (the opposition) will cash in on that."

Although the political opposition is hobbled with a credibility problem, people might just "register their unhappiness" by voting against the ruling party, he said.

"If the ground is sour, you don't need a credible opposition."

Gomez said it was "inevitable" that at least four opposition parties would enter into an alliance to strengthen their chances, and noted a general apathy toward the PAP.

"People do not pay too much interest in the political process. The ruling party might highlight one or two individuals and try to drum that up as a big issue, but I think most people will just ignore the party."