<P> Further economic success continued through the 1980s, with the unemployment rate falling to 3% and real GDP growth averaging at about 8% up until 1999 . During the 1980s, Singapore began to upgrade to higher - technological industries, such as the wafer fabrication sector, in order to compete with its neighbours which now had cheaper labour . Singapore Changi Airport was opened in 1981 and Singapore Airlines was developed to become a major airline . The Port of Singapore became one of the world's busiest ports and the service and tourism industries also grew immensely during this period . Singapore emerged as an important transportation hub and a major tourist destination . </P> <P> The Housing Development Board (HDB) continued to promote public housing with new towns, such as Ang Mo Kio, being designed and built . These new residential estates have larger and higher - standard apartments and are served with better amenities . Today, 80--90% of the population lives in HDB apartments . In 1987, the first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line began operation, connecting most of these housing estates and the city centre . </P> <P> The political situation in Singapore continues to be dominated by the People's Action Party . The PAP won all the parliamentary seats in every election between 1966 and 1981 . The PAP rule is termed authoritarian by some activists and opposition politicians who see the strict regulation of political and media activities by the government as an infringement on political rights . The conviction of opposition politician Chee Soon Juan for illegal protests and the defamation lawsuits against J.B. Jeyaretnam have been cited by the opposition parties as examples of such authoritarianism . The lack of separation of powers between the court system and the government led to further accusations by the opposition parties of miscarriage of justice . </P> <P> The government of Singapore underwent several significant changes . Non-Constituency Members of Parliament were introduced in 1984 to allow up to three losing candidates from opposition parties to be appointed as MPs . Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) was introduced in 1988 to create multi-seat electoral divisions, intended to ensure minority representation in parliament . Nominated Members of Parliament were introduced in 1990 to allow non-elected non-partisan MPs . The Constitution was amended in 1991 to provide for an Elected President who has veto power in the use of national reserves and appointments to public office . The opposition parties have complained that the GRC system has made it difficult for them to gain a foothold in parliamentary elections in Singapore, and the plurality voting system tends to exclude minority parties . </P>

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