1997 Singaporean general election

none July 2014 July 2014 Singapore parliamentary 1991 Singaporean general election 1991 8th Parliament of Singapore 2001 Singaporean general election 2001 9th Parliament of Singapore All 83 directly elected seats in Parliament (and up to 3 NCMPs) 2 January 1997 1,881,011RV 1,115,679 of the 1,881,011 voters were registered in uncontested constituencies, leaving 765,332 voters able to vote. 95.91% ( 0.88pp) 130x130px GohChokTong-WashingtonDC-20010614.jpg Goh Chok Tong People's Action Party 60.97%, 77 seats 81 4 465,751 64.98% 4.01pp JoshuaBenjaminJeyaretnam-Singapore-20051107-cropped.jpg J. B. Jeyaretnam Workers' Party of Singapore 14.29%, 1 seat 2 1 101,544 14.17% 0.12pp ChiamSeeTong-SDARally-20060502.jpg Chiam See Tong Singapore People's Party Did not exist 1 New 16,746 2.34% New Prime Minister Prime Minister after election Goh Chok Tong Goh Chok Tong People's Action Party People's Action Party Marine Parade GRC Ran in Cheng San GRC (won as NCMP) Potong Pasir SMC Map of the results of the 1997 Singaporean general election.svg Results by constituency General elections were held in Singapore on 2 January 1997 to elect members of Parliament. They were the tenth general elections since the introduction of self-government in 1959 and the eighth since independence in 1965. The number of parliamentary seats increased from 81 to 83 following adjustments to electoral boundaries. With 47 seats won uncontested by the People's Action Party (PAP) on nomination day, the outcome of the elections was effectively determined before polling day for the second consecutive election. The ruling PAP secured a landslide victory and retained its supermajority by winning all but two of the 83 parliamentary seats, while also increasing its popular vote share for the first time since the 1980 election to 65%.Da Cunha Derek The Price Of Victory: the 1997 Singapore general election and beyond 1997 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Singapore 9813055669Li Jinshan Elklit Jørgen The Singapore general election 1997: campaigning strategy, results, and analysis Electoral Studies June 1999 18 2 199–216 10.1016/S0261-3794(98)00027-4 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261379498000274 subscription The only opposition candidates elected were Chiam See Tong, now under the Singapore People's Party (SPP) banner, who retained his seat in Potong Pasir SMC, and Low Thia Khiang of the Workers' Party (WP), who retained his seat in Hougang SMC. The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), now led by Chee Soon Juan, lost all its parliamentary seats and reversed its gains from the previous election. As the opposition secured two elected seats, one Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat was offered to the WP team in Cheng San GRC, which was the best-performing losing opposition team. J. B. Jeyaretnam was selected, marking his return to Parliament for the first time since 1986, albeit as a NCMP. The 1997 election was the only one to span two calendar years, with nomination day held on 23 December 1996 and polling day on 2 January 1997. In this election, the size of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) was also expanded from four members to between four and six, with six-member constituencies remaining in place for two decades until their removal in the 2020 election. Background This election was Goh Chok Tong's opportunity as prime minister to secure a stronger mandate after the PAP's relatively weaker performance in 1991. Despite retaining a supermajority and continuing the de facto one party rule of Singapore following Lee Kuan Yew stepping down as prime minister and becoming a senior minister, the PAP's popular vote share had fallen to 61.0%, the lowest it had received since independence, while the opposition held four seats in the 8th Parliament. At dissolution, two seats in Eunos and Toa Payoh GRCs, both under the PAP, were vacated following the death of Tay Eng SoonTampines North division of Eunos GRC. and the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong,Kim Keat division of Toa Payoh GRC. who stepped down to contest in the 1993 Singaporean presidential election. Ong went on to win the presidency, becoming Singapore's first directly elected President of Singapore. Neither GRCs held by-elections. A third incumbent, Lim Chee Onn, Joo Chiat division of Marine Parade GRC. retired from politics ahead of the Marine Parade by-election in 1992, where former Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) rear admiral Teo Chee Hean succeeded him; according to Lim, he did not stand for the by-election citing health and work reasons.5 December 1992 Lim Chee Onn quits as MP https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19921205-1.2.3 15 January 2026 The Straits Times 1 NewspaperSG 0585-3923 8572659 Singapore Democratic Party infighting In 1993 the largest opposition party, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), experienced a major internal conflict when party founder and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong clashed with the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC), which included assistant Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan as well as chairman and Bukit Gombak MP Ling How Doong, over Chee's behaviour. The CEC supported Chee, and Chiam resigned from the Secretary-General post of his own party. He remained in the SDP for a time, successfully blocking an attempted expulsion by the CEC through a court case on procedural grounds, before resigning on his own accord in 1996 shortly before the general election to join the Singapore People's Party (SPP), a splinter group formed in 1994 by members of the SDP who backed him. Shortly after taking control of the SDP as its Secretary-General, Chee traveled abroad to speak to foreign media, especially in Western countries, about what he saw as "limits to democracy" in Singapore. He also published his second book, Dare to Change: An Alternative Vision for Singapore, criticising the PAP government and its ministers.Chee Soon Juan Chee Soon Juan Dare To Change: An Alternative Vision for Singapore 1994 Singapore Democratic Party Singapore 9810056621 In response to criticisms of his book by then deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, Chee wrote a letter to The Straits Times. Marine Parade GRC MP Matthias Yao replied, sparking a two-month exchange of letters in the newspaper that concluded with Chee challenging Yao to contest him in a SMC at the next general election. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong agreed to separate Yao's MacPherson division from Marine Parade GRC at this general election so that he could accept the challenge. Ultimately, although Chiam had initially invited Chee to the SDP, they clashed over personality and approach. He opposed Chee's confrontational style and harsh criticism of the PAP especially when done abroad, which he considered counterintuitive to the SDP's cause and opposition politics in general, particularly since Chee did not hold a seat in Parliament and voiced his criticisms from outside the House and the country. Timeline Date Event21 November 1996 Publication of Electoral Boundaries report16 December 1996Dissolution of 8th Parliament23 December 1996Nomination Day2 JanuaryPolling day15 JanuaryAnnouncement of Non-constituency Member of Parliament26 MayOpening of 9th Parliament Nominations and campaigning The 8th Parliament was dissolved on 16 December 1996, with nominations held a week later. At the close of nominations, 122 candidates were fielded, and the PAP secured a return to power for the second consecutive and third overall election in which a majority of seats were uncontested. In total, 47 seats went uncontested, including Tampines GRC, where the National Solidarity Party (NSP) team was disqualified after one candidate was found to have been struck off the electoral rolls for failing to vote in 1991. Meanwhile, Chia Shi Teck became the first former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) to contest in general election, running as an independent candidate in a rare four cornered fight in Chua Chu Kang SMC. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), previously known as the Singapore United Front (SUF), was represented by a father and son duo consisting of Tan Soon Phuan and Tan Lead Shake, the latter of whom later joined the NSP. Cheng San GRC controversy Cheng San Group Representation Constituency#1997: Hotly contested election During the campaigning period, Tang Liang Hong, who stood on the Workers' Party (WP) ticket alongside its Secretary-General J. B. Jeyaretnam in Cheng San GRC, came under heavy attack by the governing PAP. The PAP accused Tang of being an "anti-Christian Chinese chauvinist", which became a major controversy of the election and shaped much of the national debate during the campaign.Mahmud Aqil Haziq GE2025: SM Lee questions opposition parties' initial inaction on foreign interference https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-lee-hsien-loong-pap-rally-foreign-interference-5092941 channelnewsasia.com CNA 7 September 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250726115422/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-lee-hsien-loong-pap-rally-foreign-interference-5092941 26 July 2025 en Tang was part of a five-member WP team that contested Cheng San GRC in 1997. During the hustings, the PAP had accused Tang of being an anti-Christian Chinese chauvinist. Electoral boundaries List of Singaporean electoral divisions (1997–2001) New six-member Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) were formed in the election, while six existing GRCs were absorbed into neighboring GRCs.22 November 1996 New Horizons https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19961122-1.2.69.1 29 March 2025 The Straits Times 54 NewspaperSG Divisions of each constituencies which were either absorbed or carved out Single Member Constituencies (SMC), or creating smaller divisions, were reflected in the table: Constituency Changes Aljunied GRC Ward upsized to five membersAbsorbed Eunos from Eunos GRC, Changkat South division from Tampines GRC (renamed to Changi-Simei), and portions of Serangoon Gardens division from Thomson GRC Ang Mo Kio GRC Ward upsized to five membersAbsorbed Nee Soon South SMC, portions of Chong Boon division from Cheng San GRC, and portions of Serangoon Gardens division from Thomson GRC Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC New ConstituencyFormed with Thomson GRC (and a small portion of Serangoon Gardens division) and Toa Payoh GRC, with Boon Teck and Kim Keat divisions absorbed to Toa Payoh Central division, and Kuo Chuan to Toa Payoh East division Bukit Timah GRC New ConstituencyFormed with Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah, Jurong, Ulu Pandan and Yuhua SMCs, and parts of Clementi division from Brickworks GRC Cheng San GRC Ward upsized to five membersPunggol division was split into Punggol Central, Punggol East and Punggol South divisionsCarved out Chong Boon division to Ang Mo Kio GRC and Cheng San division East Coast GRC New ConstituencyAbsorbed Joo Chiat division from Marine Parade GRC, Kaki Bukit division from Eunos GRC, Changi SMC and Bedok GRCChangi division was absorbed into Changi-Simei and Siglap divisions Hong Kah GRC Ward upsized to five membersAbsorbed a portion of Chua Chu Kang SMC (forming Yew Tee division) and Jurong SMCHong Kah West division was split to include Nanyang division (which also absorbed a portion of Jurong SMC) Jalan Besar GRC Kallang division was dissolved into Kolam Ayer, Jalan Besar, Whampoa and Kampong Glam wards Kreta Ayer–Tanglin GRC New ConstituencyFormed with Kreta Ayer SMC, Tanglin SMC and portions of Kampong Glam GRC (except for Kampong Glam division, which was split into SMC) Marine Parade GRC Ward upsized to six membersAbsorbed Braddell Heights and Mountbatten SMC, and portions of Serangoon Gardens division from Thomson GRC (forming Serangoon division)Carved out MacPherson division into SMC, and Joo Chiat division into East Coast GRC Pasir Ris GRC New ConstituencyAbsorbed Pasir Ris and portions of Tampines North division (renamed to Pasir Ris South) from Eunos GRC, while Pasir Ris division was split into Pasir Ris Central, Pasir Ris East and Pasir Ris Loyang divisions Sembawang GRC Ward upzised to six membersBukit Panjang and Sembawang divisions were split to include Marsiling and Woodlands divisions, respectively Tampines GRC Tampines West division was split to include Tampines Central divisionCarved a portion of Changkat South division to Aljunied GRC, while the rest absorbed to Tampines Changkat division Tanjong Pagar GRC Ward upsized to six membersAbsorbed Brickworks and Queenstown division from Brickworks GRC, as well as Bukit Merah, Buona Vista and Leng Kee SMCsCarved out Telok Blangah division to West Coast GRCBrickworks division was absorbed into Pasir Panjang & Queenstown divisions West Coast GRC New ConstituencyFormed with Telok Blangah division from Tanjong Pagar GRC, and Clementi & West Coast divisions from Brickworks GRC MPs not standing for re-election 17 incumbent PAP MPs retired prior to the polls, including the first Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Ahmad Mattar, cabinet ministers S. Dhanabalan and Yeo Ning Hong, as well as Ho Kah Leong, leaving Lee Kuan Yew left as the last active MP from the pre-independence Legislative to contest in succeeding elections until 2015.http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes20010930-1.2.52.3 Retiring with his Grace 14 November 2018 MP Party ConstituencyElected inArthur BengPAPBedok GRC1984Ch'ng Jit KoonPAPBukit Merah SMC1968S. Chandra DasPAPCheng San GRC1980Chin Harn TongPAPAljunied GRC1972S. DhanabalanPAPToa Payoh GRC1976Ho Kah LeongPAPJurong SMC1966Koh Lip LinPAPNee Soon South SMC1980Lau Ping SumPAPAng Mo Kio GRC1980Lau Teik SoonPAPThomson GRC1976Lee Yiok SengPAPSembawang GRC1972Ahmad MattarPAPBrickworks GRC1972Peter SungPAPBuona Vista SMC1988Teo Chong TeePAPChangi SMC1976Umar Abdul HamidPAPAng Mo Kio GRC1991Wong Kwei CheongPAPKampong Glam GRC1980Yeo Ning HongPAPKampong Glam GRC1980Yeo Toon ChiaPAPAng Mo Kio GRC1970Zulkifli MohammedPAPJalan Besar GRC1984 New candidates A total of 42 candidates made their election debuts, of which the PAP introduced 24 including its future office holders such as Lim Swee Say, S. Iswaran and Yaacob Ibrahim, as well as the eventual first woman cabinet minister Lim Hwee Hua among others. New candidate Party ConstituencyAbdul Rahim OsmanWPCheng San GRCAhmad MagadPAPPasir Ris GRCAng Mong SengPAPBukit Gombak SMCMike ChanWPWest Coast GRCChan Soo SenPAPEast Coast GRCPeter ChenPAPHong Kah GRCChia Shi TeckIndependentChua Chu Kang SMCSteve ChiaNSPHong Kah GRCChin Tet YungPAPSembawang GRCAnthony D' CruzWPWest Coast GRCGandhi AmbalamSDPJalan Besar GRCHawazi DaipiPAPSembawang GRCHeng Chee HowPAPHougang SMCHuang Seow KwangWPCheng San GRCInderjit SinghPAPAng Mo Kio GRCS. IswaranPAPWest Coast GRCPatrick KeeNSPHong Kah GRCS. KunalenSDPAljunied GRCDavid LimPAPAljunied GRCLim Hwee HuaPAPMarine Parade GRCLim Swee SayPAPTanjong Pagar GRCChristopher NeoNSPBoon Lay SMCLily NeoPAPKreta Ayer–Tanglin GRCOng Ah HengPAPNee Soon Central SMCOng Kian MinPAPPasir Ris GRCR. RavindranPAPBukit Timah GRCSeng Han ThongPAPAng Mo Kio GRCSin Boon AnnPAPTampines GRCSyed Farid WajidiSPPBukit Gombak SMCTan Boon WanPAPAng Mo Kio GRCTan Lead ShakeDPPKampong Glam SMCTang Liang HongWPCheng San GRCTay HoonSDPAljunied GRCTeo Ho PinPAPSembawang GRCToh See KiatPAPAljunied GRCWong Wee NamNSPHong Kah GRCYaacob IbrahimPAPJalan Besar GRCYadzeth HairisNSPHong Kah GRCYeo Guat KwangPAPCheng San GRCYip Yew WengNSPChua Chu Kang SMCZainul AbidinPAPCheng San GRC Results On Polling Day, several PAP ministers, including Goh Chok Tong, Tony Tan and Lee Hsien Loong, were present within the precinct of polling stations in Cheng San GRC even though they were not candidates in the constituency. The WP argued that this was a violation of the Parliamentary Elections Act, as unauthorised personnel are prohibited from polling stations under election law to prevent undue influence and harassment of voters and staff. The voter turnout in contested constituencies was 95.91%, the highest recorded in Singapore's electoral history. Kampong Glam's PAP candidate Loh Meng See achieved the best result of the election with 74.52% of the valid votes. Only two candidates, Tan Soo Phuan of the DPP and Syed Farid Wajidi of the SPP, forfeited their election deposits. This election was also the last general election to feature a four-cornered contest in one of its constituencies until the 2025 election, not counting the 2011 Singaporean presidential election or the 2013 Punggol East by-election, which were also four-cornered contests.GE2025: Stage set for four-way fight in Tampines GRC; PAP and WP go head-to-head in Tampines Changkat SMC https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/stage-set-for-four-way-fight-in-tampines-grc-pap-and-wp-go-head-to-head-in-tampines-changkat-smc The Straits Times 23 April 2025 en 23 April 2025 right Popular vote PAP 64.98 People's Action Party WP 14.17 Workers' Party (Singapore) SDP 10.62 Singapore Democratic Party NSP 6.74 National Solidarity Party (Singapore) Others 3.49 grey right Elected seats won 47 seats (PAP; uncontested) 56.63 cyan 34 seats (PAP; contested) 40.96 People's Action Party 1 seat (SPP) 1.2 Singapore People's Party 1 seat (WP) 1.2 Workers' Party (Singapore) People's Action Party 465751 +4.01 81 +4 Workers' Party 101544 –0.12 2 +1 Singapore Democratic Party 76129 –1.36 0 –3 National Solidarity Party 48322 –0.57 0 0 Singapore People's Party 16746 New 1 New Democratic Progressive Party 5043 New 0 New Independents 3210 –1.41 0 0 17255 +3 765332 Singapore ElectionsRV Opposition parties contested vote Party Votes #DDD 500px 400px WP Workers' Party (Singapore) 37.61 SDP Singapore Democratic Party 33.13 NSP National Solidarity Party (Singapore) 30.07 SPP Singapore People's Party 27.19 Independents Independent 14.06 DPP Democratic Progressive Party (Singapore) 12.34 By constituency ConstituencySeatsElectoratePartyCandidatesVotes%Aljunied GRC5103,466People's Action PartyKer Sin TzeDavid LimSidek SaniffToh See KiatGeorge Yeo64,29967.02Singapore Democratic PartyAziz IbrahimKwan Yue KengS. KunalenTay HoonWong Hong Toy31,64532.98Ang Mo Kio GRC5125,344People's Action PartyLee Hsien LoongSeng Han ThongInderjit SinghTan Boon WanTang Guan SengUncontestedAyer Rajah SMC122,025People's Action PartyTan Cheng Bock15,08173.17Singapore People's PartySin Kek Tong5,53126.83Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC5122,256People's Action PartyHo Tat KinIbrahim OthmanLeong Horn KeeDavinder SinghWong Kan SengUncontestedBoon Lay SMC120,014People's Action PartyGoh Chee Wee12,40766.10National Solidarity PartyChristopher Neo6,36233.90Bukit Gombak SMC124,909People's Action PartyAng Mong Seng15,22965.14Singapore Democratic PartyLing How Doong6,64328.42Singapore People's PartySyed Farid Wajidi1,5066.44Bukit Timah GRC5118,248People's Action PartyFoo Yee ShoonLim Boon HengOng Chit ChungR. RavindranWang Kai YuenUncontestedCheng San GRC5103,323People's Action PartyHeng Chiang MengLee Yock SuanMichael LimYeo Guat KwangZainul Abidin53,55354.82Workers' PartyAbdul Rahim OsmanHuang Seow KwangJ. B. JeyaretnamElected as NCMP.Tan Bin SengTang Liang Hong44,13245.18Chua Chu Kang SMC124,074People's Action PartyLow Seow Chay14,14161.92National Solidarity PartyYip Yew Weng5,04022.07IndependentChia Shi Teck3,21014.06Democratic Progressive PartyTan Soo Phuan4451.95East Coast GRC6142,201People's Action PartyAbdullah TarmugiChan Soo SenChew Heng ChingChng Hee KokS. JayakumarTan Soo KhoonUncontestedHong Kah GRC5125,452People's Action PartyJohn ChenKenneth ChenPeter ChenHarun Abdul GhaniYeo Cheow Tong82,18269.00National Solidarity PartySteve ChiaPatrick Kee Tan Chee KienWong Wee NamYadzeth Hairis36,92031.00Hougang SMC124,423Workers' PartyLow Thia Khiang13,45858.02People's Action PartyHeng Chee How9,73641.98Jalan Besar GRC471,922People's Action PartyChoo Wee KhiangLee Boon YangPeh Chin HuaYaacob Ibrahim44,84067.55Singapore Democratic PartyDavid ChewGandhi AmbalamJufrie MahmoodLow Yong Nguan21,53732.45Kampong Glam SMC120,044People's Action PartyLoh Meng See13,44674.52Democratic Progressive PartyTan Lead Shake4,59825.48Kreta Ayer–Tanglin GRC475,126People's Action PartyRichard HuLew Syn PauLily NeoR. SinnakaruppanUncontestedMacPherson SMC120,734People's Action PartyMatthias Yao12,54665.14Singapore Democratic PartyChee Soon Juan6,71334.86Marine Parade GRC6142,106People's Action PartyGoh Chok TongGoh Choon KangLim Hwee HuaMohamad Maidin PackerOthman Haron EusofeEugene YapUncontestedNee Soon Central SMC126,257People's Action PartyOng Ah Heng15,21461.33Singapore Democratic PartyCheo Chai Chen9,59138.67Pasir Ris GRC485,908People's Action PartyAhmad MagadCharles ChongOng Kian MinTeo Chee Hean56,90770.86Workers' PartyA. BalakrishnanA. RahimLim Chiu LiangSim Say Chuan23,40429.14Potong Pasir SMC118,759Singapore People's PartyChiam See Tong9,70955.15People's Action PartyAndy Gan7,89544.85Sembawang GRC6154,402People's Action PartyChin Tet YungHawazi DaipiHo Peng KeeK. ShanmugamTony TanTeo Ho PinUncontestedTampines GRC494,476People's Action PartyAline WongMah Bow TanSin Boon AnnYatiman YusofUncontestedTanjong Pagar GRC6141,520People's Action PartyChay Wai ChuenKoo Tsai KeeLee Kuan YewLim Swee SayOw Chin HockS. VasooUncontestedWest Coast GRC474,022People's Action PartyBernard ChenLim Hng KiangS. IswaranWan Soon Bee48,27570.14Workers' PartyMike ChanAnthony D'CruzJohn GanNg Teck Siong20,55029.86Source: ELD Incumbents defeated IncumbentConstituencyElected inWinnerName Party NamePartyCheo Chai ChenSDPNee Soon Central SMC1991Ong Ah HengPAPLing How DoongSDPBukit Gombak SMC1991Ang Mong SengPAP Aftermath thumb|upright|The front page on page 1 of The Straits Times on 3 January Cheng San GRC Cheng San Group Representation Constituency#1997: Hotly contested election After the election, the WP candidates at Cheng San GRC filed police reports against the PAP over the presence of PAP ministers within the precinct of polling stations in Cheng San GRC,7 January 1997 WP lodges police complaint against ministers' presence The Straits Times citing the violation of two sections of the Parliamentary Elections Act: Section 82(1)(d): "No person shall wait outside any polling station on polling day, except for the purpose of gaining entry to the polling station to cast his vote". Section 82(1)(e): "No person shall loiter in any street or public place within a radius of 200 metres of any polling station on polling day." Their complaints were not prosecuted by the police, on the advice of the Attorney-General (AG) Chan Sek Keong.31 July 1997 Waiting, loitering in poll station not an offence: A-G The Straits Times Chan, in his letter to the Minister for Law S. Jayakumar, interpreted the statute as being "irrelevant to people" within the polling station, and that remaining within the polling station itself, as opposed to being within a perimeter of 200 meters from the external walls of the polling station, was not an offence. This reading was unconventional because it practically allowed people to stay inside the station, but deemed it an offence to be in the area within 200 metres outside its external walls.21 July 1997 Unauthorised persons inside polling stations: Attorney General's letter http://www.singapore-window.org/ag0721.htm 15 August 2017 www.singapore-window.org He added that "the possibility of a person inside a polling station influencing or intimidating voters in the presence of the presiding officer and his officials, the polling agents etc was considered so remote that it was discounted by the Act." This logic was also unusual because it suggested that voters were safe from undue influence inside the polling station, yet could be affected simply by being within 200 metres outside.written opinion - Presence of Unauthorised Persons Inside Polling Stations, Appendix (Cols. 1417 - 1424) http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/resource/NonPDF/1997/19970730/19970730-HA-0671417.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20170815174755/http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/resource/NonPDF/1997/19970730/19970730-HA-0671417.htm 15 August 2017 15 August 2017 sprs.parl.gov.sg The WP questioned whether the AG was suggesting that it was acceptable for people to enter and loiter on the grounds of the polling station rather than outside it, and subsequently renewed its call for the establishment of an independent election commission to ensure fair play in the conduct of elections in Singapore.15 July 1997 WP asks Public Prosecutor to explain stand on PAP men at polling station http://www.singapore-window.org/0715st.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121005190032/http://www.singapore-window.org/0715st.htm 5 October 2012 The Straits Times Alt URL Tang Liang Hong's self-imposed exile After the election, Tang Liang Hong was sued for defamation by several of the PAP's leaders, including then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then-Deputy Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Tony Tan, who accused him of making statements during the campaign which falsely questioned their integrity.http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Issue/straitstimes19970125.aspx Tony Tan also suing Tang for defaming him in report The Straits Times Singapore Press Holdings Singapore 1 25 January 1997 The suits over Mr Tang's police report are separate from the three defamation actions by PM Goh, SM Lee, and six other PAP members for his comment that they had concocted lies against him. dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121107053018/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Issue/straitstimes19970125.aspx 7 November 2012 dmy-all A total of 13 judgements were entered against Tang for defamation.http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Issue/straitstimes19970309.aspx Tang's case The Straits Times Singapore Press Holdings Singapore 4 9 March 1997 13 defamation suits filed against him by 11 People's Action Party dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121107053455/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Issue/straitstimes19970309.aspx 7 November 2012 dmy-all Tang left Singapore shortly after the election and moved to Australia. He never returned to Singapore until his death in 2025.Ler Sean Former Workers' Party politician Tang Liang Hong dies aged 90 https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/former-workers-party-politician-tang-liang-hong-dies-aged-90 asiaone.com AsiaOne 2 October 2025 Other constituencies With upgrading schemes dangled as a pricy stake for voters living in public housing, the PAP reversed its electoral decline for the first time in four elections with a 4.01% increase in its vote share. This marked the first election since the 1963 general election in which the party managed to wrestle back opposition wards, regaining control of Bukit Gombak and Nee Soon Central, both of which had been captured in the previous election. Due to Chiam See Tong's defection to the SPP, the SDP failed to win any seats, ending its parliamentary presence that had lasted since 1984. The SDP has yet to return to Parliament since then. The election saw two opposition MPs returned to the legislature, with Chiam representing the SPP and Low Thia Khiang the WP. In addition, one Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat was offered to the WP team in Cheng San GRC, which was the best performing losing opposition team with 45.2% of the vote. The WP accepted the offer and appointed its Secretary-General J. B. Jeyaretnam as NCMP, marking his return to Parliament for the first time since 1986. In June 1997, when NMPs were appointed, the number of appointments was increased from six to nine. Later, on 6 September 1999, the 9th Parliament was relocated to the newly constructed Parliament House situated within the Civic District facing North Bridge Road. The former Parliament House was closed following the move and subsequently reopened on 26 March 2004 as The Arts House, repurposed as a venue for the arts and cultural events. Notes References External links Official elections webpage – Elections Department Singapore Singapore-elections – a comprehensive archive of elections results, as well as past ones Official websites of political parties National Solidarity Party https://web.archive.org/web/20201109060855/https://nsp.sg/ 9 November 2020 People's Action Party, Manifesto (PDF) Singapore Malay National Organisation, (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura) Singapore Democratic Party, Manifesto Singapore People's Party, Manifesto Workers' Party of Singapore, Manifesto 2006 Category:General elections in Singapore Singapore General Singapore