"We are a society that's more aware. We are also a society that's become more diverse," Minister for Information and the Arts David Lim told the Straits Times newspaper.

"That awakens in us a certain questioning about choice and the freedom to make those choices," he added.

Singapore frowns upon political dissent and sexual content but is now positioning itself as an Asian media and arts hub, prompting calls to relax controls especially with the population already widely using the Internet.

Lim said "we can't deny this change" that has occurred in society, and acknowledged that Singapore would have to "open up space."

"But there are two important caveats. One is that we cannot deny our history and our heritage. We've got peculiar sensitivities within our society. The second is the need to protect certain core values," he added without elaborating.

A Censorship Review Committee (CRC) has been formed to undertake the once-a-decade study on censorship and make recommendations to the government.

It includes journalists, professionals, academics and members of the artistic community.

Lim said he asked the committee to consider three things in carrying out its task: globalisation, technical change and multi-racial Singapore's social and cultural heritage.

Singapore is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to create new theaters, music halls and museums in a bid to become a cultural melting pot and regional venue for the arts in Asia.

International news agencies and broadcasters have also set up regional offices in Singapore, although strict political controls remain a concern among foreign correspondents covering the city-state.

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