However, the eight parties have been unable to agree on their agenda, sharing resources, or fielding common candidates under one banner, the report said.

It quoted Yip Yew Weng, president of the National Solidarity Party (NSP) as saying: "We have been talking to each other for six to eight months, and NSP has been working on the idea for quite some time.

"The basic idea is for us to come together, unite, set a common strategy for the election, share resources and let our candidates contest under one banner, one logo."

The opposition parties have made unsuccessful attempts in the past to challenge the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled the city-state since it attained statehood in 1965.

The next general elections in Singapore are due by August 2002 but there has been speculation the government could go to the polls earlier.