Pix: AsiaOneSINGAPORE: About 90 per cent of Singaporeans agree that there are "some troubling signs" of Singaporeans becoming increasingly less tolerant, according to a recent government poll.

Almost all of those polled agreed with the PM Lee Hsien Loong's call for Singaporeans to have bigger hearts. They also concur with overall themes of offering offering hope for the future and making Singapore the "best home".

80 per cent thought that Singapore was still a harmonious society, even though at least 70 per cent were concerned that Singaporeans have been "expressing nasty views on foreigners".

These findings came from a telephone poll of 813 citizens from ages 18 to 79, conducted by government feedback unit Reach, said The Sunday Times.

The poll also sought opinion on other matters, such as actual or potential policies.

Almost eight in 10 felt that singles ought to be allowed to purchase flats directly from the Housing Board, instead of only those on the resale market. PM Lee said the Government was looking into this issue.

Improving pre-school education and boosting birth rates were also issues that found strong support from citizens.

However, there is still the problem of how to fund government spending especially when only 55 per cent agreed that social spending "would need to be paid for eventually by increasing taxes".

- AsiaOne