Lee, who is also the PAP secretary-general, urged the party faithful to remember their purpose "is to serve the nation" and build a country where everyone had the chance to work for a better life regardless of their background.

"Our responsibility is to build a new Singapore... never be satisfied with what we already have. Always seeks to improve, to do better than before," he said according to a copy of the speech received from the party.

Lee, who became premier in August, was speaking to 6000 party members in afinal rally to celebrate the PAP's 50th anniversary.

Party chairman Lim Boon Heng urged members never to forget the values -- namely integrity and equality for all -- which formed the base of PAP.

"Our platform should represent the aspirations of the people," Lim said.

"Then the people will identify with the party, and our party will be the party of choice."

The PAP has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965 and won 82 of the 84 seats in parliament at the last elections in 2001.

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