Lee, in his first policy speech since becoming prime minister on August 12, said Singaporeans no longer needed to get police approval to speak at indoor gatherings.

The change in policy is in line with the policies the government has pursued in recent years to open up society, Lee said.

"We have opened up over the years," Lee said, adding that the degree of debate is "much more than we used to have" but "I think we can go further."

"Now we have decided we are going to exempt indoor talks from licensing requirements unless they touch on sensitive issues like race and religion," he said.

It's a signal that Singaporeans should "speak, speak your voice, be heard, take responsibility for your views and opinions," he said.

He called for a national debate on a proposal to permit the opening of Singapore's first casino, which has triggered rare dissent inside the ruling People's Action Party and provoked strong warnings from religious groups.

Lee, the son of Singapore's iron-fisted founding father Lee Kuan Yew, had promised an "open and inclusive" society in his inaugural address after being sworn in as prime minister on August 12.

He took over from Goh Chok Tong, who governed for 14 years with a lighter touch than the elder Lee and remains in the cabinet as senior minister.

Singapore, ruled by the same party for the past 45 years, is admired widely for its order and affluence but often criticised for rigid social controls and strict limits on political expression.

Race and religion are highly sensitive issues in Singapore, which suffered ethnic riots and tensions in the past. Its population is more than three-quarters ethnic Chinese, with the rest mostly Malay and Indian.

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