Issue of unwed couples having children brought up at discussion

The subject was unwed couples having children, and it drew conflicting views from Singaporeans at a studio discussion with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday.

A single mother wanted to have more children but did not want to get married. A father of three felt couples must marry before they have children. In a poll among the 50 studio guests, just over half thought unmarried couples should not have children.

But Mr Lee made it clear that he did not think society was ready for change on this issue.

He also discussed topics from pre-school education to attitude towards foreigners during the forum, billed as part of the National Conversation on Singapore's future. Participants ranged from university students and unionists, to managers and chief executives. Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and MPs Indranee Rajah and Intan Azura Mokhtar also took part.