PRESS DIGEST - Singapore newspapers - Mar 12

SINGAPORE, March 12 (Reuters) - The following are stories from Singapore newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories.

THE STRAITS TIMES

- The Political and Economic Risk Consultancy expects corruption to emerge as a hot-button issue in Asia this year as slowing growth, rising food prices and political campaigns feed a groundswell against graft. But Singapore is unlikely to be tainted as expatriates surveyed by the Hong Kong-based group once again rank it the least corrupt economy in the region.

- The opposition Workers' Party has called for an alternative panel to be set up by the President to look into the escape of Islamic militant Mas Selamat Kastari.

THE BUSINESS TIMES

- A record number of foreigners here have opted to purchase homes instead of renting them at ever-climbing rates. According to an analysis of transactions of private residential properties by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, foreigners bought 6,536 non-landed homes from the secondary market in 2007, the largest number since 1995.