1972 Singaporean general election

none July 2014 July 2014 Singapore parliamentary 1968 Singaporean general election 1968 2nd Parliament of Singapore 1976 Singaporean general election 1976 3rd Parliament of Singapore 2 September 1972 908,382RV 95,456 of the 908,382 voters were registered in uncontested constituencies, leaving 812,926 voters able to vote. 93.55% ( 1.72pp) All 65 seats in Parliament 33 Mr. Lee Kuan Yew Mayoral reception 1965 (cropped).jpg Lee Kuan Yew People's Action Party Tanjong Pagar 86.72%, 58 seats 65 7 524,892 70.43% 16.29pp Singaporean election 1972 map.png Results by constituency Prime Minister Prime Minister after election Lee Kuan Yew People's Action Party Lee Kuan Yew People's Action Party General elections were held in Singapore on 2 September 1972 to elect all 65 members of Parliament. They were the fourth general elections since Singapore attained self-governance in 1959 and the second since gaining independence in 1965. The elections were contested in 57 constituencies, with the remaining eight seats won in walkovers by the People's Action Party (PAP). A total of 137 candidates contested the elections, comprising 135 from six political parties and two independents. The PAP, led by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, won all 65 seats in Parliament in a landslide victory for the third consecutive general election. The PAP received 524,892 of the 745,239 valid votes cast, amounting to 70.43% of the popular vote.Parliamentary general election 1972 Singapore Elections This represented a decline from the 86.72% share it achieved in the 1968 general elections. The opposition parties, including the Barisan Sosialis (BS), Workers' Party (WP), United National Front (UNF), People's Front (PF) and Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (PKMS), collectively contested the elections but failed to win any seats. BS, which had boycotted the vote in 1968, returned to the electoral arena, fielding 10 candidates; these only secured a combined 4.63% of the popular vote. The opposition had remained fragmented and many candidates lost their election deposits due to low vote shares. The results left Parliament without any opposition members, reinforcing the PAP's legislative dominance. With no change in party representation, this election continued the trend of one-party rule that had been in place since 1968.Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p254 0-19-924959-8 Electoral system List of Singaporean electoral divisions (1972–76) The 65 members of Parliament were elected in 65 single-member constituencies, an increase from 58 in the 1968 elections. Like the previous elections, boundaries and constituencies were adjusted due to changes in development or population; the newly added constituencies were: Constituency ChangesNew Constituencies Boon TeckKim KeatKuo Chuan Carved from Toa Payoh Bukit Batok Carved from Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah and Choa Chu Kang Henderson Carved from Tiong Bahru Kim Seng Carved from Bukit Ho Swee and Delta Leng Kee Carved from Bukit Merah Timeline DateEvent 16 AugustDissolution of 2nd Parliament 23 AugustNomination Day 2 SeptemberPolling Day 12 OctoberOpening of 3rd Parliament MPs not standing for re-election Four MPs announced their retirement this election, though Low Yong Nguan would later return to politics in 1988 standing under the future Singapore Democratic Party's banner. MP Party ConstituencyElected inMohamad Ghazali IsmailPAPAljunied1968Low Guan OnnPAPRiver Valley1968Low Yong NguanPAPCrawford1968S. RamaswamyPAPPotong Pasir1966 New candidates The PAP had 11 new candidates, which include architect Ong Teng Cheong, a future Deputy Prime Minister and also the first-elected and fifth President of Singapore, and university lecturer Ahmad Mattar, a future cabinet minister who would later become the first Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. J. B. Jeyaretnam, the Workers' Party's secretary-general, also marked its electoral debut this election. New candidate Party ConstituencyA. RahimBSDeltaAhmad MattarPAPLeng KeeAmir Ali MohamedUNFAljuniedAng Kheng KwanUNFUlu PandanAng Kok PengPAPCrawfordAriffin NoordinWPSiglapIvan BaptistPAPPotong PasirChai Chong YiiPAPBukit BatokCheng Poh YewWPMoulmeinChin Harn TongPAPAljuniedChin Tian ChooBSBukit Ho SweeChua Eng HuatWPQueenstownWilliam CookUNFJoo ChiatPaul ElishaUNFCairnhillS. A. HamidUNFAlexandraHarnek SinghUNFPotong PasirHashim YadiWPKampong Chai CheeHeng Swee TongWPKim SengHo Soo HockUNFSepoy LinesJ. B. JeyaretnamWPFarrer ParkKamaruddin HassanUNFKampong KembanganKho Jiak HiongWPBukit MerahC. KunjuramanUNFAnsonLai Tha ChaiPAPHendersonS. A. LatiffUNFFarrer ParkLee Kah ChitUNFTiong BahruLee Tow KiatWPMacPhersonLee Yiok SengPAPBukit PanjangLeong Mun KwaiPFTanjong PagarLew Ban HuatUNFQueenstownLeyu Tan JibUNFBukit PanjangLim Kia JooUNFUpper SerangoonLim Kang ChewWPAljuniedLim Thiam HockPFBoon TeckN. LogamUNFLeng KeeP. ManoBSKuo ChuanMohd ArifUNFSembawangMohd Elias IbrahimUNFGeylang EastRajaratnam MurugasonWPPotong PasirN. M. Abdul WahidUNFCrawfordK. K. NairBSBukit TimahNg Ah ChueBSChua Chu KangJohnnie NgUNFJalan BesarNg Oh ChewUNFTelok AyerNg Soon HeeUNFJurongNg Yang ChooBSKampong Chai CheeNormah YahyaWPChangiOmar NinggalUNFChangiOng Leong BoonPAPKim SengOng Seng KokUNFJalan KayuOng Teng CheongPAPKim KeatOthman AbdullahWPKampong KembanganW. J. PaglarUNFKim KeatPhang Juet HawPFWhampoaPhey Yew KokPAPBoon TeckQuek Doh LamWPGeylang WestRahman ZinPKMSKampong UbiM. RamasamyUNFTelok BlangahRom JaafarUNFGeylang SeraiSaid JaliBSBukit MerahSeow Khee LengWPKim KeatSeow Yong ChewWPTiong BahruSultan Mydin Abdul HamidUNFKallangTan Eng LiangPAPRiver ValleyTan Poh SengWPPaya LebarTan Sim HockPFTampinesTang Song KhiangWPBukit PanjangTay Kim OhWPAnsonWong Kong HoaPFHong LimWong Wen NamPFHendersonWu KherWPCrawfordYap Fatt ShingUNFNee SoonZainul Abiddin Mohd ShahWPTelok Blangah Campaign Unlike in 1968 where the People's Action Party (PAP) secured a return to power on nomination day due to only seven out of 58 seats being contested, the 1972 election saw increased electoral participation, with contests taking place in all but eight constituencies. Political parties The ruling PAP sought to reinforce its position by portraying opposition parties as "lacking credibility and coherence". The PAP criticised opposition groups for what it described as inconsistent and opportunistic political manoeuvres, which, in their view, diminished public confidence in these parties. Emphasising Singapore's rapid economic development, including successful public housing projects and increasing standards of living, the PAP argued that such progress demonstrated the effectiveness of its governance model. The party further suggested that political diversity risked causing internal divisions and "squabbling" that could undermine national unity and impede policy implementation during a critical period of nation-building.Barr Michael D. Singapore: A Modern History 2019 I.B. Tauris 9781780763057Mutalib Hussin Parties and Politics: A Study of Opposition Parties and the PAP in Singapore 2004 Marshall Cavendish Academic 9789812104083 Barisan Sosialis (BS) renounced its boycott strategy and attempted to make a comeback, while the Workers' Party (WP) saw its rejuvenation with the introduction of its new secretary-general, also lawyer and former district judge, J. B. Jeyaretnam, who would later become the inaugural opposition Member of Parliament in 1981; former leader and ex-Chief Minister David Marshall contemplated standing as an independent, but ultimately did not run due to a stingray wound. Other opposition parties included the United National Front (UNF), the People's Front (PF) and the Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (PKMS). Attempts to form a unified electoral pact among the opposition were unsuccessful, leading to a fragmented opposition that split the anti-PAP vote across constituencies. As a result, a significant number of opposition candidates lost their election deposits.Rodan Garry Singapore 2019 Routledge 9781138722637George Cherian Singapore: The State and the Culture of Excess 2007 Routledge 9780415417129 Opposition leaders also criticised what they viewed as the dominance of the PAP in political institutions, limited media access and restrictions on political expression, which they argued hindered the development of a viable multi-party system and constrained voters' political choices. Results thumb|upright|The front page on page 1 of The Straits Times on 3 September With expectations that the PAP might face stiffer competition, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated that securing around 45 seats would already constitute a convincing mandate. Nevertheless, the PAP succeeded in winning all 65 seats in Parliament, marking the second consecutive election in which it achieved a clean sweep. The outcome reinforced the party's political dominance in the post-independence era, despite a more contested electoral landscape compared to 1968. The election also recorded a notable number of forfeited deposits, with 22 opposition candidates receiving less than 12.5% of the valid votes cast in their respective constituencies, resulting in the loss of their $500 election deposits, a record at the time in post-independence Singapore. Lee was overwhelmingly reelected to his constituency of Tanjong Pagar with 84.08% of the vote, the highest share recorded by any candidate for the second consecutive election. right Popular vote PAP 70.43 People's Action Party WP 12.2 Workers' Party (Singapore) UNF 7.38 #33AACC BS 4.63 Barisan Sosialis PF 3.01 People's Front (Singapore) Others 2.35 grey right Seats won 8 seats (PAP; uncontested) 12.31 cyan 57 seats (PAP; contested) 87.69 People's Action Party File:Singapore Parliament 1971.svg People's Action Party 524892 –16.29 65 +7 Workers' Party 90885 +8.18 0 0 United National Front 55001 New 0 New #33AACC Barisan Sosialis 34483 New 0 New People's Front 22462 New 0 New Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura 10054 New 0 New Independents 7462 –8.27 0 0 15229 +7 908382 93.55 Nohlen et al., Singapore ElectionsRV Opposition parties contested vote Party Votes #DDD 500px 400px PKMS Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura 37.73 PF People's Front (Singapore) 27.54 BS Barisan Sosialis 27.05 WP Workers' Party (Singapore) 24.46 Independents Independent 23.24 UNF #33AACC 12.29 By constituency ConstituencyElectoratePartyCandidatesVotes%SwingMarginAlexandra24,499People's Action PartyWong Lin Ken17,96577.52N/A61.20Workers' PartyWong Kui Yu3,78216.32NewUnited National FrontS.A. Hamid1,4276.16NewAljunied19,278People's Action PartyChin Harn Tong12,86171.51N/A57.26Workers' PartyLim Kang Chew4,36024.25NewUnited National FrontAmir Ali Mohamed7624.24NewAnson8,171People's Action PartyP. Govindaswamy5,02774.34N/A55.25Workers' PartyTay Kim Oh1,29119.09NewUnited National FrontC. Kunjuraman4446.57NewBoon Teck15,958People's Action PartyPhey Yew Kok9,94766.75New33.50People's FrontLim Thiam Hock4,95433.25NewBras Basah8,323People's Action PartyHo See BengUncontestedBukit Batok14,563Chai Chong Yii9,76573.78New47.56United National FrontR. Vetrivelu3,47126.22NewBukit Ho Swee12,212People's Action PartySeah Mui Kok7,86268.77N/A49.45Barisan SosialisChin Tian Choo2,20919.32NewWorkers' PartyWee Kia Eng1,36111.91NewBukit Merah13,960People's Action PartyLim Guan Hoo9,04469.33N/A53.68Workers' PartyKho Jiak Hiong2,04215.65NewBarisan SosialisSaid Jali1,95815.02NewBukit Panjang15,461People's Action PartyLee Yiok Seng9,52767.65N/A42.83Workers' PartyTang Song Khiang3,49624.82NewUnited National FrontLeyu Tan Jib1,0607.53NewBukit Timah15,476People's Action PartyChor Yeok Eng9,47566.78N/A33.56Barisan SosialisK. K. Nair4,71433.22NewCairnhill11,952People's Action PartyLim Kim San8,45880.92N/A61.84United National FrontPaul Elisha1,99419.08NewChangi18,297People's Action PartySim Boon Woo10,51262.42N/A33.22Workers' PartyNormah Yahya4,91729.20NewUnited National FrontOmar Ninggal1,4128.38NewChua Chu Kang15,669People's Action PartyTang See Chim9,00262.36N/A24.72Barisan SosialisNg Ah Chue5,43437.64NewCrawford9,285People's Action PartyAng Kok Peng6,04072.60N/A53.79Workers' PartyWu Kher1,56518.81NewUnited National FrontN. M. Abdul Wahid7148.59NewDelta13,781People's Action PartyYeo Choo Kok9,14970.72N/A53.82Workers' PartyWong Hong Toy2,18616.90NewBarisan SosialisA. Rahim1,60212.38NewFarrer Park12,707People's Action PartyLee Chiaw Meng8,52173.8211.0950.71Workers' PartyJ. B. Jeyaretnam2,66823.11NewUnited National FrontS. A. Latiff3543.07NewGeylang East16,580People's Action PartyHo Cheng Choon9,69264.24N/A31.43Workers' PartyKum Teng Hock4,95132.81NewUnited National FrontMohd Elias Ibrahim4452.95NewGeylang Serai13,837People's Action PartyRahmat Kenap6,71153.5929.4213.84Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu SingapuraAhmad Haji Taff4,97839.75NewUnited National FrontRom Jaafar8336.66NewGeylang West11,653People's Action PartyYong Nyuk Lin7,32069.28N/A38.56Workers' PartyQuek Doh Lam3,24630.72NewHavelock10,849People's Action PartyHon Sui Sen7,15172.65N/A45.30Barisan SosialisHarbans Singh2,69227.35NewHenderson9,431People's Action PartyLai Tha Chai6,57774.43New48.86People's FrontWong Wen Nan2,26025.57NewHong Lim7,486People's Action PartyLee Khoon Choy4,83573.79N/A47.58People's FrontWong Kong Hoa1,71726.21NewJalan Besar10,310People's Action PartyChan Chee Seng7,79483.86N/A67.72United National FrontJohnnie Ng1,50016.14NewJalan Kayu14,982People's Action PartyHwang Soo Jin8,28359.4222.8822.56Workers' Party M. P. D. Nair5,13736.8619.16United National FrontOng Seng Kok5183.72NewJoo Chiat15,684People's Action PartyYeoh Ghim Seng11,66983.49N/A66.98United National FrontWilliam Cook2,30716.51NewJurong15,348People's Action PartyHo Kah Leong10,74176.43N/A52.86United National FrontNg Soon Hee3,31223.57NewKallang17,232People's Action PartyAbdul Aziz Karim12,62679.75N/A59.50United National FrontSultan Mydin Abdul Hamid3,20520.25NewKampong Chai Chee15,564People's Action PartySha'ari Tadin7,45852.39N/A22.97Barisan SosialisNg Yang Choo4,18829.42NewWorkers' PartyHashim Yadi2,59018.19NewKampong Glam7,542People's Action PartyS. RajaratnamUncontestedKampong Kapor9,361Yeo Toon Chia6,13273.15N/A46.30United National FrontChng Boon Eng2,25126.85NewKampong Kembangan18,480People's Action PartyAriff Suradi9,67157.53N/A25.10Workers' PartyOthman Abdullah5,45132.43NewUnited National FrontKamaruddin Hassan1,68710.04NewKampong Ubi15,431People's Action PartyYa'acob Mohamed8,03056.8625.0120.90Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu SingapuraRahman Zin5,07635.94NewUnited National FrontDarus Shariff1,0177.20NewKatong16,766People's Action PartyJoseph Francis ConceicaoUncontestedKim Keat14,640Ong Teng Cheong10,26274.00N/A52.21Workers' PartySeow Khee Leng3,02221.79NewUnited National FrontW. J. Paglar5834.21NewKim Seng12,893People's Action PartyOng Leong Boon8,17867.74N/A35.48Workers' PartyHeng Swee Tong3,89532.26NewKreta Ayer9,627People's Action PartyGoh Keng SweeUncontestedKuo Chuan15,142P. Selvadurai10,52373.69N/A47.38Barisan SosialisP. Mano3,75726.31NewLeng Kee17,158People's Action PartyAhmad Mattar10,92968.28N/A43.07Workers' PartyNg Ho4,03625.21NewUnited National FrontN. Logam1,0426.51NewMacPherson15,637People's Action PartyChua Sian Chin10,11768.76N/A37.52Workers' PartyLee Tow Kiat4,59731.24NewMoulmein11,144People's Action PartyLawrence Sia7,41272.4318.1344.86Workers' PartyCheng Poh Yew2,82227.57NewMountbatten14,396People's Action PartyNg Yeow ChongUncontestedNee Soon17,061Ong Soo Chuan11,63673.2918.0647.58United National FrontF. S. Yap4,24026.71NewPasir Panjang13,964People's Action PartyOthman Wok9,20971.77N/A43.54United National FrontSyed Ahmad Syed Husain3,62328.23NewPaya Lebar19,102People's Action PartyTay Boon Too11,07361.59N/A31.77Workers' PartyTan Poh Seng5,36129.82NewIndependentKow Kee Seng1,5458.59NewPotong Pasir13,103People's Action PartyIvan Baptist7,77266.22N/A37.33Workers' PartyRajaratnam Murugason3,39128.89NewUnited National FrontHarnek Singh5734.89NewPunggol15,303People's Action PartyNg Kah Ting8,21558.13N/A16.26IndependentNg Teng Kian5,91741.87NewQueenstown18,458People's Action PartyJek Yeun Thong14,20081.24N/A52.35Workers' PartyChua Eng Huat2,50428.89NewUnited National FrontLew Ban Huat7754.43NewRiver Valley12,189People's Action PartyTan Eng LiangUncontestedRochore11,589Toh Chin Chye6,21860.40N/A20.80Barisan SosialisLee Siew Choh4,07639.60NewSembawang12,217People's Action PartyTeong Eng Siong8,46677.36N/A54.70United National FrontMohd Arif2,47822.64NewSepoy Lines12,308People's Action PartyWee Toon Boon9,16081.30N/A62.60United National FrontHo Soo Hock2,10718.70NewSerangoon Gardens13,836People's Action PartyL. P. RodrigoUncontestedSiglap16,091Abdul Rahim Ishak11,45678.63N/A61.27Workers' PartyAriffin Noordin2,52917.36NewUnited National FrontH. M. Yahiya5844.01NewStamford8,212People's Action PartyFong Sip Chee5,08371.77N/A43.54Workers' PartyChiang Seok Keong1,99928.23NewTampines15,302People's Action PartyPhua Bah Lee9,04964.30N/A28.60People's FrontTan Sim Hock5,02535.70NewTanglin12,777People's Action PartyE. W. BarkerUncontestedTanjong Pagar9,946Lee Kuan Yew7,54284.0810.2668.16People's FrontLeong Mun Kwai1,42815.92NewTelok Ayer10,547People's Action PartyOng Pang Boon7,61283.98N/A67.96United National FrontNg Oh Chew1,45216.02NewTelok Blangah14,624People's Action PartyN. Govindasamy7,66957.92N/A22.32Workers' PartyZainul Abiddin Mohd Shah4,71435.60NewUnited National FrontM. Ramasamy8586.48NewThomson18,702People's Action PartyAng Nam Piau12,37872.55N/A45.10People's FrontWong Chung Kit4,68327.45NewTiong Bahru17,394People's Action PartyCh'ng Jit Koon11,99175.62N/A56.88Workers' PartySeow Yong Chew2,97218.74NewUnited National FrontLee Kah Chit8945.64NewToa Payoh15,742People's Action PartyEric Cheong10,88473.85N/A47.70Barisan SosialisTay Cheng Kang3,85326.15NewUlu Pandan14,485People's Action PartyChiang Hai Ding9,37871.83N/A43.66United National FrontAng Kheng Kwan3,67828.17NewUpper Serangoon16,621People's Action PartySia Kah Hui11,86277.7255.44United National FrontLim Kia Joo3,40122.28NewWhampoa12,044People's Action PartyAugustine Tan8,77378.5557.10People's FrontPhang Juet Haw2,39521.45NewSource: ELD, Singapore Elections Notes References Singapore Category:General elections in Singapore General Singapore