"Singapore offers itself as a base from which analysts and fund managers can follow the region dispassionately, with neither euphoria nor panic. They will be well positioned to detect the turnabout...," Deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong told fund managers and investors at an investment conference here.

Lee, who is also head of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said Singapore would maintain its fundamental approach of relying on market forces, allowing free capital flows, encouraging foreign investments and plugging into the global economy to survive the regional crisis.

He added Singapore's "different approach" would be noted by analysts and investors and reflected in the country's credit ratings and assessments.

In his speech, Lee gave an outline of the approaches taken by other Asianeconomies battered by the crisis, among them Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Lee said neighbouring Malaysia's situation contrasts with that of other countries.