Lee Senior warns of danger in challenging system

"What we must avoid is the wholesale onslaught of our way of doing things, our methods of dialogue and intercourse and to bring about change that can make the system collapse," the Sunday Times newspaper quoted Lee as saying.

Lee, who ruled Singapore with an iron hand when he was prime minister for 30 years until 1990, said the government would gradually ease limits on what was accepted politically here as society developed.

"But if you collapse the government, you may not be lucky a second time to find another group of men and another prime minister to rebuild that position.

"Then you are in trouble," Lee told community leaders late Saturday at a forum on challenges facing Singapore in the 21st century.

The People's Action Party, which Lee founded and whose head now is Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, has ruled Singapore since independence.

Lee cited the ouster of Indonesian president Suharto last year and said he sympathised with B.J. Habibie, who inherited a much diminished presidency which no longer commanded respect and regard.

Habibie's task was not made easier by the media undermining his authority by exposures of scandals by those around him, Lee said.

Even if Megawati Sukarnoputri -- whose party won the highest number of votes in Indonesia's parliamentary elections in June -- were to become president, Lee doubted she could command the authority of the presidency that Suharto or her father, founding president Sukarno, did.

They had proven themselves tough leaders, Lee added.

Lee pointed out Megawati was "going to have a very tough time to prove that she deserves to be there, that her judgments are sound and that she can solve Indonesia's problems."

"So when you demolish a system, you have a big problem in setting up a new one," Lee said, asking Singaporeans to "think carefully before you bring down the prestige of the government and the authority of the prime minister and his cabinet."