John O'Callaghan

Restaurants, tourist attractions and some other businesses are already feeling the pain as haze envelopes the SE Asian neighbours.

But the rise of the Workers’ Party from a fragmented opposition and its seven seats in parliament point to eroding support for the PAP.

Singapore’s long-ruling government is reacting to discontent about rising prices, foreign workers and a sluggish economy with unprecedented openness, but threats of lawsuits show it remains testy with critics deemed to have crossed the line.