Racial resentment grows

But as the south-east Asian economic crisis intensifies, strains are emerging between the city-state's majority Chinese and minority Malays.

Malays claim they have suffered redundancies disproportionately and resentment of discriminatory job advertisements, searching mostly for Chinese, is rising.

They already feel under-represented in some areas, such as the highest levels of the civil service. And they feel alienated by a "Speak Mandarin" campaign, which has put another barrier between themselves and the Chinese.

A recent push to build a "Chinese élite" has only added to concerns that the government is promoting the dominance of Chinese over Malays. The Malays are increasingly seeking refuge in Islamic schools.

Lee Hsien Loong, deputy prime minister, has sought to reassure them, saying the government would work to promote the cultures of all Singaporeans. But the fact that he had to say anything at all reveals how much distrust has built up.

The Singapore Malay National Organisation has called for the government to establish a council at prime minister level to eliminate racial discrimination.

Mohd Rahizan Yaacob, the group's secretary-general, says it will be difficult because there is a natural bias against Malays founded on fears of aggression by the neighbouring, mostly Malay, populations of more than 200m that surround, and vastly outnumber, Singapore's 3m people.

'The government has not made a strong effort to campaign against racial discrimination,' says Mohd Rahizan.

Although some officials have called for an end to discriminatory advertisements, George Yeo, minister for information and the arts, sees nothing wrong with them. 'We are honest,' he says. 'The prospective employer wants to know these things.'

But critics retort that since the government promotes Singapore as a meritocracy, it should have long ago taught society that skills are all that should matter.

'We really need to make our voice heard very clearly,' Mr Mohd Rahizan says. But that is not easy. Although the government says it does not control the media, officials admit journalists do look to the authorities for guidance.

The opposition wants a local newspaper with an independent perspective. As it stands, to make themselves heard Singaporeans must seek a forum in the government-influenced media or obtain a police permit to speak in public.

Chee Soon Juan, leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic party (SDP), recently tried to challenge the restriction by lecturing in the financial district twice without a permit to hundreds who gathered to listen. He was arrested and fined.

'We believe that the establishment of free-speech venues is an incremental step that Singapore can well afford to take,' wrote Zulkifli B. Baharudin, of the Roundtable group formed to give those outside politics a forum to express their views.

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father, says it will probably establish a Hyde Park, referring to Speakers' Corner in the London park.

But Goh Chok Tong, the prime minister, is not ready to make such a move. "Do not forget that this is a multiracial society where religion can still become quite sensitive," he says. "So I will not move too quickly. Somebody can just go to the speakers' corner and talk about religion and incite feelings against some other religions in the name of freedom of speech. By the time we nab him and charge him in court it may be too late."

Opposition politicians believe Singaporeans are mature enough to discuss even religion without provoking a repeat of riots in the 1960s. 'This racial thing is a bogeyman,' says Gandhi Ambalam, vice-chairman of the SDP.

The government insists the people support its position, otherwise the People's Action party (PAP), which has ruled since Singapore gained autonomy from the UK in 1959, would have been voted out of office.

Its handling of the economic crisis is far more important to most Singaporeans than increased democratisation, so the party is under no immediate threat. Opposition politicians and diplomats say even posing one would be virtually impossible.

"The PAP has maintained its political dominance in part by developing genuine voter support through honest, effective administration and its strong record in bringing economic prosperity to the country, and, in part, by manipulating the electoral framework, intimidating organised political opposition, and circumscribing the bounds of legitimate political discourse and action, " states the US report on Singapore human rights practices for 1998.

Opposition politicians say companies are afraid to hire them. Newsstands often refuse to sell their party newspapers. And many Singaporeans still feel uncomfortable discussing these controversial issues.

But now, at least, they are out in the open. "We're still sowing the seeds," Mr Chee says. "To conclude that, because we're not seeing anything above ground level, nothing is happening is erroneous."