SENIOR Minister Lee Kuan Yew has said Singapore would have a better political system if it gave two votes to every man over 40 with a family.
The suggestion prompted criticism from the opposition and from women.
Secretary-general of the opposition Workers' Party, Joshua Jeyaretnam, said the concept breached the fundamental principle of one-man, one-vote and the assertion in Singapore's constitution that all are equal before the law.
Mr Lee said he was personally convinced of the two-vote system's merit. As the man would also be voting for his children, he was likely to be more careful.
''He is more likely to vote in a serious way than a capricious young man under 30,'' he said.
''But we haven't found it necessary yet. If it became necessary we should do it.'' Mr Lee, a former prime minister, still wields significant influence within the Government.