1958 Singapore City Council by-election

none A by-election for the Singapore City Council was held on 26 July 1958 following the resignation of Chang Yuen Tong, the representative for Kallang Constituency. Chang stated that he was unable to balance the responsibilities of his job with those of the Workers' Party (WP), of which he was a member. However, People's Action Party (PAP) leader Lee Kuan Yew later claimed that Chang's resignation had been influenced by communist leader Fang Chuang Pi as part of a coordinated strategy. In the by-election, the WP nominated Lo Ka Fat as its candidate. He contested the seat against Lim Ser Puan of the Labour Front, Buang bin Omar Junid of the PAP, and Govindapillai Maruthamuthoo Kanagasabai, who stood as an independent candidate. Election deposit The election deposit was stated at $250. As both candidates Lo Ka Fat and Govindapillai had failed to achieve the minimum 12.5% of the votes, both candidates lost their deposit. Historical significance This was the only by-election held for the Singapore City Council, and it was also the final City Council election before the council was abolished in 1959. The PAP, upon forming the government that year, dissolved the council with the stated aim of preventing it from functioning as a pressure group within the government structure. Following the council's dissolution, its municipal responsibilities were taken over by various statutory boards. This arrangement remained in place until 1988, when the management of local municipal functions was transferred from the civil service to the newly established town councils. Unlike the City Council, these town councils do not hold separate local elections and are instead administered by the elected Member of Parliament (MP) representing the respective constituency. Results Buang bin Omar Junid People's Action Party 4279 New Lim Per Suan Labour Front 3566 +20.6 Lo Ka Fat Workers' Party 304 –37.8 Govindapillai Maruthamuthoo Kanagasabai Independent 74 New 14308 108 713 8.67 8,331 People's Action Party gain from Workers' Party References 1958 City Council By election's result Background of 1958 City Council By Election Brief introduction and historical significance of City Council's elections April 2017 Singapore City Council by-election Singapore City Council by-election Category:By-elections in Singapore Category:Singapore City Council elections