Lee has announced a partial relaxation of rules by doing away with the need for police approval to discuss political issues indoors, but forums on the sensitive topics of race and religion remain subject to restrictions.

Low Thia Kiang, secretary-general of the opposition Workers' Party, told AFP that "a mature society can and should allow people to discuss" race and religion and "the audience should be able to make (a) judgement for themselves."

"To show that the government is serious about wanting to develop diverse voices, let's designate all public parks and neighbourhood parks in (public housing estates) as speakers' corners," he said.

He was referring to a designated Speakers' Corner in the financial district where government critics are allowed to speak after obtaining a police permit.

Said to be modelled after the Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park, it has been ridiculed as a mere showcase and largely used by unknown public speakers airing personal views on a wide range of topics.

Low, one of only two opposition MPs in Singapore's 84-seat parliament, said free speech should not have any out-of-bounds (OB) markers, referring to often undefined limits of political discourse in the city-state.

"Freedom of expression has no OB markers and public speakers are expected to be responsible in social, political discourse," he said.

Lee, the son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew who ruled with an iron hand for three decades, has promised an "open and inclusive" society since taking over from his predecessor Goh Chok Tong on August 12.

"We have opened up over the years... I think we can go further," Lee said in an inaugural policy speech Sunday.

"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, adding it was a signal that Singaporeans should "speak, speak your voice, be heard, take responsibility for your views and opinions."

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