Singapore election result in the bag

Crowds waved flags and cheered PM Goh's victory

Singapore's general election is effectively over nine days before a single vote has been cast with the governing People's Action Party (Pap) winning by default.

When nominations closed on Thursday for the election on 3 November, the Pap found itself unopposed in 55 of the 84 sets.

If the opposition wants to form an alternative it must contest more seats

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong still urged voters to turn out in the 29 contested seats, saying Singapore faced its "gravest challenge since independence."

The Pap has governed Singapore since independence in 1965, with opposition parties never gaining more than four seats.

Singapore's opposition is fragmented into 22 parties. They won just two seats at the last election in 1997 when they also contested fewer than half the seats. The Pap last faced a full election in 1988

Opposition tactics

The Pap's opponents say opposition is stifled through tight restrictions on free speech and the media.

The Pap's trademark white flags will not be ruffled

Secretary General of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party, Chee Soon, Juan said the country was an "authoritarian, autocratic state".

"The most important thing is really the ability of the people to have their voice in Parliament," he said.

Mr Chee was himself jailed for 12 days in 1999 for making speeches without a permit.

Correspondents say the opposition may be hoping that voters will free to vote for them in the knowledge that whatever happens there will not be the uncertainty of a change in government.

Recession fears

But Prime Minister Goh says he wants a "strong mandate" to pursue policies in what he called "unusual times".

The government says the chief election issue is the economy, which is reeling after a sharp downturn in global demand for electronics products, Singapore main export.

Analysts say the 11 September attacks on the US, a key market, dashed hopes of an early recovery. Unemployment is expected to rise to 4.5%.

Among government plans to stimulate the economy is a scheme to redistribute budget surpluses to Singaporeans by issuing New Singapore Shares.

Effectively a $2.7bn handout, the scheme gives between $100 - $900 to about two-million working adults and the elderly. Thousands have already applied to cash in their shares.