Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the measures were not needed because there were only a few things considered out of bounds, such as topics tending to incite racial or religious hatred and those that were defamatory.

A government-appointed committee tasked to retool the economy and society to prepare Singapore for tougher global competition has recommended a clear definition of "out-of-bound markers" especially in the political arena.

This is aimed at encouraging Singaporeans to speak up more freely, amid criticisms that strict controls and unclear rules restrict freedom of expression, including in the arts.

But Lee said it would be "very difficult" to draw the line on what can or cannot be discussed, especially in certain "grey areas" where the discussions are not political but have implications on the society.

"To put it quite candidly, it's a kind of game," the Straits Times quoted him as saying.

"Wherever we draw the line, you would like to be on the other side of the line and say: 'I am sacrosanct, please don't fire at me, but I can fire at you.' It's not possible."

The Business Times quoted Lee as putting the onus back on the people of Singapore.

"We encourage people to express their views and to have a view. Our problem in Singapore is that many people don't really have a view," he said.

Sinapan Samydorai, executive director of the political rights group Think Centre, said Lee's remarks would not help encourage people to express their opinions.

"Most people look to remarks from the leadership and take the cue from there. This means that people will think very carefully before they embark on serious issues," he told AFP.

"I think people will take it as a red light... It will not help opening up further."

Politics in Singapore has been dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), whose leaders have been criticised for using defamation suits to silence political opponents.

PAP leaders contend the party has been put in power by free elections and have challenged the political opposition to test their programmes at the polls.

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