1959 Singaporean general election

none July 2014 March 2021 Singapore Flag_of_Singapore_(1952–1959).svg parliamentary 1955 Singaporean general election 1955 1963 Singaporean general election 1963 1st Legislative Assembly of Singapore 30 May 1959 2nd Legislative Assembly of Singapore All 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly 26 586,098 90.07% ( 37.41pp) 130x130px Mr. Lee Kuan Yew Mayoral reception 1965 (cropped).jpg Lee Kuan Yew People's Action Party Tanjong Pagar 8.72%, 3 seats 43 281,891 54.08% 39 45.36pp File:Lim Yew Hock, 1956 (cropped).png Lim Yew Hock Singapore People's Alliance CairnhillLim Yew Hock represented Havelock before the election. Did not exist 4 107,755 20.67% New New Abdul Hamid bin Haji Jumat.jpg Abdul Hamid Jumat United Malays National Organisation Geylang SeraiAbdul Hamid Jumat represented Ulu Bedok before the election. 3.66%, 1 seat 3 27,448 5.27% 2 1.61pp Chief Minister Prime Minister after election Lim Yew Hock Singapore People's Alliance Lee Kuan Yew People's Action Party Map of the results of the 1959 Singaporean general election.svg Results by constituency General elections were held in Singapore on 30 May 1959 to elect all 51 members of the Legislative Assembly. They were the first general elections after Singapore was granted full internal self-government from the United Kingdom, excluding matters of defence and foreign affairs.Self-governance attained on 3 June 1959 https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=32222e93-62e6-427f-90e2-99bdd3dde6f0 National Library Board 29 May 2025Bloodworth Dennis The Tiger and the Trojan Horse Times Books International 1986 49–51 9789971652364 Prior to the elections, the constitution was revised, known as the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council 1958. Along with a wholly elected Legislative Assembly, it also created the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara as head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government.Chronicle of Singapore, 1959–2009 Editions Didier Millet and National Library Board 2009 19–21 9789814217750 It was also the first general election with universal suffrage and compulsory voting, leading to a voter turnout of 90.07%, a significant increase from 52.66% in 1955.Singapore’s Electoral Milestones https://www.eld.gov.sg/70th_milestones.html Elections Department Singapore 29 May 2025 28 May 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250528191314/https://www.eld.gov.sg/70th_milestones.html live The People's Action Party (PAP), led by Lee Kuan Yew, achieved a landslide victory by winning 43 of the 51 seats and securing 54.08% of the popular vote.People's Action Party wins 1959 General Election https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=cac95fb9-f39f-4de1-a142-41e971017fe3 National Library Board 29 May 2025 22 June 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250622182214/https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=cac95fb9-f39f-4de1-a142-41e971017fe3 live Ong C. C. The 1959 Singapore General Election Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 2 2 1971 134–144 10.1017/S0022463400000536 The PAP, which benefited from the support of trade unions and Chinese-speaking working-class voters, had focused on completely ending colonial rule, expanding public housing and education, creating jobs through industrialisation and fostering racial harmony as its platform. Its main opponent, Lim Yew Hock's Singapore People's Alliance (SPA), which had some former members of the Labour Front (LF), secured only four seats. The Singaporean branch of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) won three seats, while other parties and independents made little headway.Bellows Thomas J. The People's Action Party of Singapore: Emergence of a Dominant Party System Asian Survey 9 3 1969 174–181 10.2307/3024441 Following the elections, Lee was sworn in as Singapore's first Prime Minister on 5 June 1959, heading the first fully elected government under the new constitutional framework.Lee Kuan Yew sworn in as first Prime Minister https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=c51f9647-32ea-43a7-8c65-82b76e4f22ae National Library Board 29 May 2025 17 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250417145908/https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=c51f9647-32ea-43a7-8c65-82b76e4f22ae live The PAP's decisive victory marked the beginning of a prolonged period of political dominance that has continued into the present day. The 1959 general elections are also widely recognised by scholars and historians as a pivotal moment in Singapore's modern history, marking a crucial step towards full sovereignty in 1965. Background Political developments David Marshall, who led the ruling Labour Front (LF) following its victory in the previous general election in 1955, was a staunch anti-colonialist and vocal critic of British rule. As Chief Minister, Marshall advocated for immediate self-government, but his uncompromising stance and confrontational negotiations with the British made it difficult to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. In 1956, after failing to secure British assent for full internal self-rule, Marshall resigned, having pledged to do so upon failure. He was succeeded by Lim Yew Hock, who adopted a more pragmatic and conciliatory approach toward the colonial authorities while simultaneously launching an aggressive campaign against left-wing and communist-linked groups. Lim's crackdown succeeded in convincing the British that the local leadership could manage internal security, which paved the way for a concrete plan toward self-governance. However, by the time of the 1959 election, the LF was deeply divided and politically weakened. Lim's repressive anti-communist measures, while effective in satisfying British concerns, had alienated a substantial portion of the ethnic Chinese electorate which had been disproportionately targeted during the anti-communist drive. His administration was accused of violating civil liberties, with numerous activists and trade unionists detained without trial with the justification of internal security. The use of force against student demonstrators during the 1956 Chinese middle schools riots, which reflected both anti-colonial and anti-communist sentiments, further eroded his popular support. These developments contributed to the LF's dramatic decline in the 1959 election and the rise of the People's Action Party (PAP) as the dominant political force. Constitutional reforms The Constitution of Singapore was significantly amended in 1958, replacing the Rendel Constitution and granting Singapore internal self-government. Under the revised constitutional framework, Singapore was given the authority to fully elect its Legislative Assembly, marking a major step toward democratic self-rule. Previously, the Rendel Constitution, drafted in 1955 by a commission headed by British diplomat George William Rendel, had introduced limited representative governance. Of the 32 seats in the Legislative Assembly under that system, only 25 were elected by the public by limited suffrage, while the remaining seven were appointed by the colonial administration. This was itself an improvement from the earlier pre-1955 Legislative Council, which allowed only nine members to be elected, with the majority of seats filled through colonial appointment. The 1959 general election was the first to be held under the new constitution and marked the beginning of Singapore's era of full internal self-government. While Singapore was now recognised as a self-governing state with control over domestic policy, the British government retained authority over external affairs, including defence and foreign relations and maintained joint control over internal security. Nonetheless, the political reforms were widely seen as a foundational milestone in Singapore's path to full independence, which would only be realised in 1965. Another significant reform introduced in 1959 was the implementation of compulsory voting. With the removal of earlier suffrage restrictions that had limited electoral participation, voting was made mandatory for all eligible citizens, a policy that has remained in place for every general election since. Parties On 10 November 1958, Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock established the Singapore People's Alliance (SPA), comprising former LF Labour Front assembly members who had defected from the party. The SPA Singapore People's Alliance also sought to broaden its support by inviting members from the Liberal Socialist Party (LSP) and the Workers' Party (WP). Formed with the intention of presenting a rejuvenated image ahead of the 1959 general election, the SPA campaigned on promises to secure full employment, improve working conditions and achieve independence for Singapore through a merger with the Federation of Malaya. Lim had previously succeeded David Marshall as Chief Minister in 1956 after Marshall resigned following unsuccessful negotiations with the British for self-government. While Lim's firm stance against left-wing activism satisfied British concerns about internal security, his administration faced growing public dissatisfaction. His tenure saw few improvements in living standards and was marred by the use of harsh measures against labour unions and student demonstrators. Allegations of corruption further damaged the government's credibility, leading to the resignation of all ten remaining elected LF assemblymen before the end of the term. These developments contributed to the formation of several new political parties, with Marshall establishing the WP in 1957, Lim the SPA in 1958 and a separate group of defectors founded the Citizens Party (CP) in early 1959. In the run-up to the election, the SPA attempted to undermine the credibility of the PAP People's Action Party, which controlled the City Council of Singapore. The SPA accused the PAP of appointing supporters to Council positions and manipulating contract tenders. To support these claims, the government convened a Commission of Inquiry in April 1959 to investigate alleged improprieties. However, the inquiry failed to uncover any evidence of wrongdoing and the hearings were indefinitely adjourned.http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2019-04-08_145822.html 1959 Legislative Assembly general election September 2018 National Library Board 18 August 2019 19 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190819045134/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2019-04-08_145822.html live https://sg-elections.com/general-election/1959/ LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1959 singapore-elections.com 21 September 2015 29 November 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191129234832/http://www.singapore-elections.com/general-election/1959/ live The LSP Liberal Socialist Party had also entered the race, having been formed from a merger of the Progressive Party (PP) and the Democratic Party (DP). The PP Progressive Party, which had previously dominated the 1948 and 1951 elections, had lost its influence by the mid-1950s as it was increasingly seen as too cautious and slow in pushing for reforms. Another electoral contender were the Singaporean branches of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC). Their campaign had focused on raising living standards and enhancing economic integration with Malaya. Given that their parent coalition, the Alliance Party, held power in the Federation of Malaya under Tunku Abdul Rahman, they promised being in a strong position to negotiate for Singapore's early merger with the Federation. The Malay Union (MU), which had previously allied with UMNO and MCA in the previous election, had been expelled from the coalition in 1957 after unilaterally fielding a candidate in the Cairnhill by-election. The PAP, then in opposition, declared its intention to contest all 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Its election manifesto, The Tasks Ahead, outlined a comprehensive five-year plan aimed at resolving Singapore's pressing socioeconomic issues. These included the provision of low-cost public housing, the expansion and reform of the education system and the promotion of industrialisation to create employment. The manifesto also reaffirmed the PAP's commitment to achieving full independence through merger with Malaya. A key theme of the PAP campaign was its stand against corruption. In contrast to the Lim's administration, PAP leaders and candidates adopted white shirts and trousers as their uniform, symbolising honesty and integrity in government, an image that continues to define the party's identity. In response, the SPA attempted to discredit the PAP by claiming it was under communist influence, a narrative that was echoed by the LSP and the local branches of UMNO. PAP leader Lee Kuan Yew dismissed these accusations as unfounded, calling them "silly", "blabbering" and "lies". Timeline 31 MarchDissolution of 1st Legislative Assembly25 AprilNomination Day30 May Polling Day5 JuneInauguration of the Cabinet with Lee Kuan Yew as inaugural Prime Minister1 JulyOpening of 2nd Legislative Assembly Changes to electoral boundaries List of Singaporean electoral divisions (1959–63) The 51 seats of the Legislative Assembly were elected from single-member constituencies, with an increase of 26 seats in this election. The changes among the constituencies were:Legislative Assembly General Election 1959 https://web.archive.org/web/20191129234832/http://www.singapore-elections.com/general-election/1959/ 29 November 2019 Singapore Elections Constituency Name ChangesAljunied Carved out of Paya LebarAnson Carved out of Tanjong PagarBras Basah Carved out of StamfordBukit Merah Absorbed part of Queenstown & Tiong BahruChua Chu Kang Carved out of Bukit PanjangCrawford Carved out of RochoreDelta Carved out of HavelockGeylang East Carved out of GeylangGeylang Serai Carved out of Ulu BedokGeylang West Carved out of GeylangHong Lim Carved out of Telok AyerJalan Besar Carved out of Kampong KaporJalan Kayu Carved out of SeletarJoo Chiat Carved out of KatongJurong Carved out of Bukit TimahKallang Absorbed part of Kampong Kapor & WhampoaKampong Glam Carved out of RochoreKampong Kembangan Carved out of Ulu BedokKreta Ayer Carved out of Telok AyerMoulmein Carved out of Farrer ParkMountbatten Carved out of KatongNee Soon Absorbed part of Seletar & SembawangPunggol Carved out of Punggol–TampinesRiver Valley Absorbed part of Cairnhill & TanglinSepoy Lines Carved out of Tiong BahruSerangoon Gardens Absorbed part of Serangoon & SeletarSiglap Absorbed part of Changi & KatongTampines Carved out of Punggol–TampinesTelok Blangah Carved out of Pasir PanjangThomson Absorbed part of Serangoon & SeletarToa Payoh Carved out of WhampoaUlu Pandan Carved out of TanglinUpper Serangoon Absorbed part of Serangoon & Paya Lebar Incumbents not standing for re-election The following incumbent elected members of the Legislative Assembly did not run in the 1959 election. Incumbent Party ConstituencyElected inA. J. BragaSPAKatong1955John EdeIndependentTanglin1955Rajabali JumabhoyLSPTelok Ayer1948A. R. LazarousIndependentFarrer Park1955Lim Chin SiongPAPBukit Timah1955Lim Koon TeckSPAPaya Lebar1955 Campaign The election was dominated by a number of major issues, among them government corruption, the path toward independence and political stability in the face of communist influence. The ongoing communist insurgency led by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), which had triggered the Malayan Emergency in 1948, remained a concern for both British authorities and local political actors. Although armed resistance in Singapore was less pronounced than in the Federation of Malaya, fears of subversion continued to influence security policy and political rhetoric. The public's growing desire for self-rule was increasingly encapsulated in the rallying cry Merdeka, a Malay word meaning independence or freedom. Popular sentiment for immediate self-government intensified in the late 1950s, reflecting the broader decolonisation movement sweeping through Asia. Political leaders, including those from the PAP and SPA, recognised the term's powerful emotional and symbolic value. Demonstrators and political activists frequently chanted "We want Merdeka now!" at rallies and public meetings, pressing for the end of British colonial rule. In the days leading up to the election, newspaper editorials and political analysts speculated that the presence of numerous parties and multi-cornered contests in many constituencies would divide the anti-PAP vote. This fragmentation was expected to benefit the PAP, which fielded candidates in all 51 constituencies and had a strong grassroots network and clear campaign message.http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19590530.2.57.aspx The Day of Decision The Straits Times 30 May 1959 6 Chew Swee Kee affair thumb|upright|Chew Swee Kee The Chew Swee Kee affair was a major controversy that surfaced during the election campaign and significantly influenced public opinion. A few months prior in February, the PAP accused Chew Swee Kee, then Minister for Education in Lim's Cabinet, to have obtained a large political donation from abroad under unclear circumstances.https://books.google.com/books?id=5yhvAAAAMAAJ Successful Singapore: A Tiny Nation's Saga from Founder to Accomplisher 191 George J. Fernandez 1992 SSMB 9789971981815 Following these accusations, a Commission of Inquiry was convened to investigate the matter. It was alleged that Chew had received between $700,000 and $800,000 from a foreign donor in New York City, which he later diverted for personal use.https://books.google.com/books?id=7qV6un8vKNUC&pg=PA218 218 Curbing Corruption in Asian Countries: An Impossible Dream? Jon S.T. Quah Emerald 2011 9780857248206 At the time, the public and press widely assumed the funding came from the United States, possibly through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), fuelling concerns about foreign interference. Chew resigned from his ministerial position on 4 March, shortly after the allegations were made public.Lee 2008 153 He also did not contest in the election. The scandal had a devastating impact on the SPA's credibility, particularly as the party was increasingly viewed as being aligned with foreign and non-local interests. For a population that was growing more anti-colonial and nationalist in sentiment, the perception that a senior minister had accepted funds from a foreign government was politically damaging. The incident is widely regarded as one of the key factors in the SPA's electoral collapse.Lee 2008 153 Subsequent scholarly research has clarified that the funding Chew received did not originate from the United States or the CIA, as previously suspected. Instead, it was channelled from the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) under the Kuomintang (KMT) government, which was then seeking to support anti-communist political forces in the region. Chew had personally met with George Yeh, the ROC's Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States, in September 1957 to solicit such funds.Chang Teh-Kuang Perspectives from Taipei about Singapore https://ccs.ncl.edu.tw/ccs2/files/scholar/Perspectives_from_Taipei_about_Singapore.pdf Centre for Chinese Studies National Central Library, Taiwan 2025-05-29 20 March 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250320045118/https://ccs.ncl.edu.tw/ccs2/files/scholar/Perspectives_from_Taipei_about_Singapore.pdf live Barr Michael D. The Chew Swee Kee Affair Revisited: Querying the American Involvement in Singapore South East Asia Research 10 2 2002 217–239 Results thumb|upright|The Sunday Times the day after the 1959 election, reporting on the results and the PAP's victory. The election results saw a landslide victory for the PAP People's Action Party, which secured 43 of the 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The SPA Singapore's People Alliance, despite contesting for 39 seats, won only four. The LF Labour Front and the LSP Liberal Socialist Party, the latter having been formed through a merger of the DP Democratic Party and the PP Progressive Party, failed to win any seats. A total of 73 candidates, including 20 from the LSP, lost their $500 election deposit after failing to obtain at least 12.5% of the vote in their respective constituencies.PAP sweeps to power with 43 seats https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19590531-1.2.5 The Straits Times Singapore Press Holdings 31 May 1959 2025-05-29 PAP candidate Wong Soon Fong achieved the highest vote share in the election, securing 77.66% in Toa Payoh. In contrast, Lillian Tan of the LSP received the lowest share, polling only 0.82% in Serangoon Gardens. In terms of absolute numbers, Goh Keng Swee of the PAP received the highest number of votes with 9,313 in Kreta Ayer, while Lillian Tan again recorded the lowest with only 64 votes. River Valley saw the narrowest winning margin in Singapore's electoral history, with PAP candidate Lim Cheng Lock winning with just five votes (an equivalent to a margin of 0.05%), against SPA's Soh Ghee Soon. This was the first election held under compulsory voting and universal suffrage. As a result, voter turnout reached 90.07%, a record high at the time, with 527,919 of the 586,098 registered voters casting their ballots. This marked a significant increase from the 52.66% turnout recorded in the previous general election. right Popular vote PAP 54.08 People's Action Party SPA 20.67 Singapore People's Alliance LSP 8.21 Liberal Socialist Party (Singapore) Liberal Socialist Party Independents 6.78 Independent UMNO 5.27 United Malays National Organisation Others 4.99 grey right Seats won 43 seats (PAP) 84.32 People's Action Party 4 seats (SPA) 7.84 Singapore People's Alliance 3 seat (UMNO) 5.88 United Malays National Organisation 1 seat (Independent) 1.96 Independent Singapore People's Alliance 4 Independent 1 People's Action Party 43 United Malays National Organisation 3 People's Action Party 281891 43 +40 Singapore People's Alliance 107755 4 New Liberal Socialist Party 42805 0 –6 United Malays National Organisation 27448 3 +2 Malayan Chinese Association 5593 0 –1 Workers' Party 4127 0 New Labour Front 3414 0 –10 Citizens' Party 3210 0 New #EFAA33 Malay Union 2819 0 –1 #88BA00 Malayan Indian Congress 2092 0 New Partai Rakyat 2006 0 New Katong United Residents' Association 1759 0 New #EE54AA Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party 1011 0 New Independents 35341 1 –2 6648 +26 586098 Singapore Elections Opposition parties contested vote Party Votes #DDD 500px 400px UMNO United Malays National Organisation 35.72 SPA Singapore People's Alliance 27.02 Independents Independent 15.04 LSP Liberal Socialist Party (Singapore) 13.21 Workers' Workers' Party (Singapore) 12.61 LF Labour Front 11.72 MIC Malaysian Indian Congress 11.34 MCA Malayan Chinese Association 9.95 Malay #88BA00 8.39 Katong #EE54AA 7.86 Citizens #EFAA33 5.64 PR Parti Rakyat Malaysia 4.15 PMIP Malaysian Islamic Party 2.74 By constituency ConstituencyElectoratePartyCandidateVotes%SwingMarginAljunied13,255People's Action PartyS. V. Lingam5,70149.40N/A6.04Liberal Socialist PartyE. H. Holloway5,00443.36N/APartai RakyatTang Yoong Chiaw8357.24N/AAnson9,921People's Action PartyBaharudin Mohamed Ariff5,16760.75N/A38.71Singapore People's AllianceGoh Kong Beng1,87522.04N/ALiberal Socialist PartyTan Cheng Chuan1,23114.47N/AIndependentWong Swee Kee1171.38N/AP. Krishanan1161.36N/ABras Basah11,193People's Action PartyHoe Puay Choo6,01463.25N/A42.29Liberal Socialist PartyFoo Ho Fang1,99320.96N/ASingapore People's AllianceGoh Hin Shong1,50115.79N/ABukit Merah11,286People's Action PartySellappa Ramaswamy5,92259.09N/A28.89Singapore People's AllianceTeo Cheng Hye3,02630.20N/AIndependentLee Choon Eng1,07310.71N/ABukit Panjang11,984People's Action PartyLee Khoon Choy6,15658.31N/A34.69Liberal Socialist PartyTan Leong Teck2,49423.62N/ASingapore People's AllianceLim Siak Guan1,38213.09N/AMalayan Indian CongressT. K. Alexander5264.98N/ABukit Timah11,285People's Action PartyYa'acob Mohamed6,17461.148.6936.78Liberal Socialist PartyPek Cheng Chuan2,46024.36N/AIndependentLee Yew Seng1,46414.50N/ACairnhill12,239Singapore People's AllianceLim Yew Hock5,27548.22N/A21.53Workers' PartyDavid Marshall2,92026.69N/APeople's Action PartyOh Su Chen2,26220.68N/ALiberal Socialist PartyTan Keng Siong4834.41N/AChangi11,199People's Action PartyTeo Hock Guan3,48035.10N/A6.67UMNOAbdul Rahman Haji Mohamed Said2,81828.43N/AIndependentLim Cher Kheng2,22522.45N/ALiberal Socialist PartyWee Tin Teck1,02410.33N/AMalay UnionFatimah Nor Bt. G. S.3663.69N/AChua Chu Kang6,889People's Action PartyOng Chang Sam3,53656.29N/A31.41IndependentNeo Koon Hin1,56324.88N/ASingapore People's AllianceGoh Tong Liang1,18318.83N/ACrawford12,031People's Action PartyK. M. Byrne7,12066.57N/A43.32Singapore People's AllianceTeng Ling Siong2,48723.25N/ALiberal Socialist PartyChua Seng Kian8978.39N/AIndependentSim John1911.79N/ADelta14,954People's Action PartyChan Choy Siong9,30169.45N/A60.40Malayan Chinese AssociationChia Chee Buang1,2129.05N/ALiberal Socialist PartyLim Ah Lee2,30817.23N/ASingapore People's AllianceMunusamy Nadarajah5714.27N/AFarrer Park10,293IndependentA. P. Rajah4,07744.52N/A2.67People's Action PartyTan Teck Ngiap3,83241.858.78IndependentSoo-Tho Sin Hee7898.62N/AChan Kooi Chew3113.40N/AGeylang East15,562People's Action PartyMohamed Ismail Abdul Rahim7,15351.95N/A10.01Singapore People's AllianceNg Cheng Chwee5,77541.94N/AIndependentMak Pak Shee8426.11N/AGeylang Serai14,447UMNOAbdul Hamid Jumat7,94063.09N/A32.64People's Action PartyRoshan Hassan3,83230.45N/APan-Malayan Islamic PartySyed Ahmad Dahlan4603.66N/APartai RakyatHarun Mohamed Amin3532.80N/AGeylang West15,570People's Action PartyYong Nyuk Lin8,92367.60N/A35.20Singapore People's AllianceKwek Sam Hock4,27632.40N/AHavelock15,909People's Action PartyLow Por Tuck9,22763.60N/A39.05IndependentNg See Thong3,56224.55N/ASingapore People's AllianceTan Theng Chiang9636.64N/AMalayan Chinese AssociationK. S. Loke4332.98N/ALiberal Socialist PartyTan Ah Pak3232.23N/AHong Lim12,667People's Action PartyOng Eng Guan8,83477.02N/A66.63Malayan Chinese AssociationLoh Ngian Lim1,19210.39N/ALiberal Socialist PartyTan Hong Chye8567.46N/ASingapore People's AllianceSim Wee Teck5885.13N/AJalan Besar13,877People's Action PartyChan Chee Seng7,60062.48N/A41.33Singapore People's AllianceWong Yew Hon2,57321.15N/ALiberal Socialist PartyLo Ka Fat1,48812.23N/ALabour FrontSee Eng Kiat5034.14N/AJalan Kayu8,690People's Action PartyTan Cheng Tong4,83762.28N/A24.56Singapore People's AllianceM. P. D. Nair2,92937.72N/AJoo Chiat15,257C. H. Koh6,13645.87N/A6.24People's Action PartyFong Kim Heng5,30139.63N/ALiberal Socialist PartyGay Wan Guay1,2159.08N/AKatong United Residents' AssociationLow Teck Cheng4053.03N/AIndependentHenry Chong3202.39N/AJurong7,176People's Action PartyChor Yeok Eng4,50270.67N/A49.87Singapore People's AllianceWong Tuck Leong1,32520.80N/ALiberal Socialist PartyChia Yeck Poh3755.89N/AMalay UnionAman B. H. Subri1682.64N/AKallang12,939People's Action PartyBuang Omar Junid5,69048.18N/A6.13Singapore People's AllianceTan Hai Tong4,96742.05N/ACitizens' PartySeah Peng Chuan1,1547.18N/AKampong Glam10,934People's Action PartyS. Rajaratnam6,32465.27N/A47.24Singapore People's AllianceMahmood Latiff1,74718.03N/ALiberal Socialist PartyOng Eng Lian1,37714.21N/AIndependentWu Shiaw2412.49N/AKampong Kapor12,736People's Action PartyG. Kandasamy6,05954.27N/A21.74Singapore People's AllianceChia Ban Wei3,63232.53N/AIndependentJaganathan S.7116.37N/AChoo Yeok Koon4323.87N/ACitizens' PartyYen Jen San3302.96N/AKampong Kembangan13,007UMNOMohammed Ali Alwi4,44338.86N/A2.13People's Action PartyOthman Wok4,19936.73N/ASingapore People's AllianceMohd. b. Hj. Yacob2,02817.74N/APan-Malayan Islamic PartyH. M. Yahiya3172.77N/APartai RakyatA. Latiff b. Ibrahim2312.02N/AMalay UnionJaffar b. Abdul Ghani2151.88N/AKreta Ayer14,173People's Action PartyGoh Keng Swee9,31373.35N/A46.70Liberal Socialist PartyPang Man Ming3,38426.65N/AMoulmein10,095People's Action PartyLin You Eng4,32447.25N/A4.03Singapore People's AllianceYap Jin Yau3,95543.22N/ALiberal Socialist PartyTan Peng Khoo8729.53N/AMountbatten10,212Singapore People's AllianceChua Seng Kim3,03133.71N/A9.87People's Action PartyTay Kum Sun2,14323.84N/AMalayan Chinese AssociationWong Foo Nam1,90321.17N/AKatong United Residents' AssociationFelice Leon-Soh1,35415.06N/ALiberal Socialist PartyWee Soo Bee5596.22N/ANee Soon8,694People's Action PartySheng Nam Chin5,62273.30N/A54.06Singapore People's AllianceYap Chin Poh1,47619.24N/ALiberal Socialist PartyYong Nyuk Khoon5727.46N/APasir Panjang6,631People's Action PartyTee Kim Leng2,12336.00N/A4.05IndependentH. J. C. Kulasingha1,88431.95N/AUMNOSukaimi Ibrahim1,70428.90N/AIndependentS. T. V. Lingam1863.15N/APaya Lebar12,089People's Action PartyTan Kia Gan6,53160.81N/A21.62IndependentOng Chye Hock4,20939.19N/APunggol9,893People's Action PartyNg Teng Kian4,07246.39N/A4.75Singapore People's AllianceTan Jin Hong3,65541.64N/ALiberal Socialist PartyQuah Heck Peck5546.31N/AIndependentTay Keng Hock4975.66N/AQueenstown10,634People's Action PartyLee Siew Choh5,30153.81N/A16.93Singapore People's AllianceChee Phui Hung3,73237.88N/AIndependentLee Kim Chuan8188.31N/ARiver Valley10,594People's Action PartyLim Cheng Lock3,43036.55N/A0.05Singapore People's AllianceSoh Ghee Soon3,42536.50N/ALiberal Socialist PartyE. K. Tan2,52926.95N/ARochore12,436People's Action PartyToh Chin Chye7,99571.76N/A51.91Singapore People's AllianceK. C. Thomas2,21219.85N/ALiberal Socialist PartyTan Soo Wan9348.39N/ASembawang8,859People's Action PartyAhmad Ibrahim4,31654.69N/A35.85Malayan Indian CongressV. Jayaram1,56619.84N/ASingapore People's AllianceChew Seng1,08413.74N/ALiberal Socialist PartyLau Sai Seng92611.73N/ASepoy Lines10,347People's Action PartyWee Toon Boon5,35258.35N/A16.70Singapore People's AllianceGoh Su Chiang3,82041.65N/ASerangoon Gardens8,631People's Action PartyLeong Keng Seng3,84348.93N/A13.74Singapore People's AllianceWee Eric Sian Beng2,76435.19N/AMalayan Chinese AssociationLiao Ping85310.8613.51Labour FrontVictor Louis Fernandez3304.20N/ALiberal Socialist PartyLilian Tan640.82N/ASiglap14,693People's Action PartySahorah bte Ahmat4,40734.34N/A7.78IndependentKoh Tee Kin3,40826.56N/ALiberal Socialist PartyJohn Snodgrass1,51111.78N/AUMNOMohamed Sidik1,41811.05N/AIndependentAbdullah Masood1,2679.87N/APartai RakyatPang Toon Tin5874.57N/APan-Malayan Islamic PartyA. Wanjor2341.83N/ASouthern Islands5,325UMNOAhmad Jabri Mohammed Akib2,59853.73N/A28.39People's Action PartyKum Teng Hock1,22525.34N/ALiberal Socialist PartyIsmail Haji Hussain1,01220.93N/AStamford12,392People's Action PartyFung Yin Ching5,37249.18N/A14.30Singapore People's AllianceJ. M. Jumabhoy3,81034.88N/AWorkers' PartyAng Meng Gee9258.47N/ALiberal Socialist PartyHooi Beng Guan6796.22N/AIndependentWong Chee Lim1361.25N/ATampines11,468People's Action PartyGoh Chew Chua7,46173.27N/A53.23Singapore People's AllianceOng Phi Hok2,04120.04N/AIndependentLim Choo Ten6816.69N/ATanglin9,127Singapore People's AllianceThio Chan Bee2,69834.41N/A3.97UMNOAhmad Haji Taff2,38630.44N/APeople's Action PartyIbrahim Othman2,36030.11N/ALiberal Socialist PartyChan Ah Wing3955.04N/ATanjong Pagar11,939People's Action PartyLee Kuan Yew7,61771.047.2942.08Liberal Socialist PartyC. Subramanyam3,10528.96N/ATelok Ayer13,998People's Action PartyOng Pang Boon8,37267.38N/A40.43Singapore People's AllianceTan Kian Kee2,10616.95N/AIndependentTay Soo Yong1,66013.36N/ACitizens' PartySoh Teck Chee2872.31N/ATelok Blangah13,202People's Action PartyJohn Mammen5,80350.41N/A14.44UMNOOsman Gani4,14135.97N/ACitizens' PartyWee Kim Hock1,23010.69N/AIndependentV. Mariappan3372.93N/AThomson10,067People's Action PartyS.T. Bani4,97854.63N/A26.30Labour FrontFrancis Thomas2,58128.33N/ASingapore People's AllianceYap Chin Choon1,55317.04N/ATiong Bahru12,151People's Action PartyLee Teck Him5,17547.66N/A27.57Singapore People's AllianceLin Wo Ling2,18220.09N/AIndependentWilliam Tan1,73015.93N/ALiberal Socialist PartyLee Bah Chee9969.17N/AIndependentLim Huan Seng4944.55N/AWorkers' PartyChua Chin Kiat2822.60N/AToa Payoh12,551People's Action PartyWong Soon Fong8,69377.66N/A55.32Singapore People's AllianceLee Poh Chee2,50022.34N/AUlu Pandan11,017People's Action PartyMohamed Ariff Suradi4,42045.44N/A13.57Singapore People's AllianceLeslie Rayner3,10031.87N/AIndependentS. Khalaff1,08311.13N/ALow Boon Kiat3613.71N/AAnthony Ponnusamy2963.04N/ALiberal Socialist PartyM. Karthigesu2842.92N/AIndependentChua Kim Toh1831.89N/AUpper Serangoon11,279People's Action PartyChan Sun Wing4,49745.06N/A1.25Singapore People's AllianceLim Choon Mong4,37243.81N/ALiberal Socialist PartySim Cho Lang9019.03N/ACitizens' PartyTan Choon Teng2092.10N/ASource: ELD, Singapore Elections Incumbents defeated IncumbentConstituencyElected inWinnerName Party NamePartyGoh Tong LiangSPABukit Panjang (ran in Chua Chu Kang)1955Ong Chang SamPAPJ. M. JumabhoyStamfordFung Yin ChingLee Choon EngIndependentQueenstown (ran in Bukit Merah)S. RamasamyLim Cher KhengChangiTeo Hock GuanLim Choon MongSPASerangoon (ran in Upper Serangoon)Chan Sun WingMak Pak SheeIndependentGeylang (ran in Geylang East)Mohamed Ismail Abdul RahimMohamed SidikUMNOSouthern Islands (ran in Siglap)Sahorah AhmatM. P. D. NairSPASeletar (ran in Jalan Kayu)Tan Cheng TongSeah Peng ChuanCPKampong Kapor (ran in Kallang)Buang Omar JunidSoh Ghee SoonSPACairnhill (ran in River Valley)1957Lim Cheng LockTan Theng ChiangRochore (ran in Havelock)1955Low Por TuckWilliam TanIndependentTiong BahruLee Teck HimWong Foo NamMCAPasir Panjang (ran in Mountbatten)Chua Seng KimSPA Aftermath thumb|upright|On 5 June, Lee Kuan Yew, along with his Cabinet ministers, was sworn in at the former City Hall. The building, together with the adjacent former Supreme Court building, has since been designated as national monuments and now forms the National Gallery Singapore. The PAP formed a new government that assumed responsibility for domestic policies and governance without interference from the British colonial administration. This marked a significant transfer of power, as the PAP government was now able to shape Singapore's internal affairs independently. However, the United Kingdom retained control over defence and foreign affairs and shared joint responsibility for internal security under a specific agreement. Despite these limitations, historians generally regard the year 1959 as the moment Singapore attained full self-governance, given that the new government could operate with substantial autonomy and political legitimacy. On 5 June, in a formal ceremony held at City Hall, Lee Kuan Yew was sworn in as Singapore's first Prime Minister by former Governor and now Yang di-Pertuan Negara William Goode. Alongside Lee, members of his cabinet also took their oaths of office. Prior to taking office, Lee asked Goode to release eight PAP members who had been detained in Changi Prison under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance (PPSO) after the Chinese middle school student riots in 1956. These included Lim Chin Siong, Fong Swee Suan, Sandrasegaran Woodhull, James Puthucheary and Devan Nair, prominent left-wing leaders and labour organisers. Lee's call for their release during the campaign had significantly boosted the morale and support of trade unions and leftist groups among the electorate. Goode, after consulting with the Colonial Office in London, agreed to Lee's requests.1959-06-03 Unlocking The Gates https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19590603-1.2.99 2024-12-06 The Straits Times 8 They were released on 4 June. After their release, internal tensions within the PAP began to emerge, as ideological and strategic rifts developed between the centrist leadership under Lee and the leftist faction led by Lim.20th July 1961 : Vote Of Confidence https://www.jamesputhucheary.org/20-july-1961-vote-of-confidence/ James Puthucheary 8 December 2024 Though the left had played a crucial role in the PAP's early success, they were gradually sidelined as the party shifted toward a more centrist stance. These divisions came to a head in 1961, when most left-wing members were expelled and went on to form the Barisan Sosialis (BS), which quickly became the main opposition force and posed the most serious electoral challenge to the PAP at the time. However, their momentum towards the next election was severely disrupted by Operation Coldstore in 1963, a major internal anti-communist security operation which saw the arrest and detention of many left-wing leaders and activists. Ironically, some of those detained had been among those whom Lee had earlier advocated releasing in 1959. Despite this, the BS's near success highlighted the lasting influence of the left-wing movement that had once been central to the PAP's rise, even as it was ultimately brushed aside in the party's consolidation of power. By-elections 1961 Singaporean by-elections During the parliamentary term following this election, two by-elections were held in 1961. The first took place in Hong Lim, where former PAP minister Ong Eng Guan contested as an independent candidate after resigning from the party. He successfully regained his seat, reflecting his personal popularity and the growing factional tensions within the PAP. The second by-election occurred in Anson following the death of PAP's Baharuddin Mohammed Ariff. David Marshall, a prominent opposition figure and former Chief Minister of Singapore, won the seat. Notes References Bibliography https://books.google.com/books?id=nSqXGSinwP4C Singapore: The Unexpected Nation Edwin Lee Institute of Southeast Asian Studies 2008 9789812307965 External links General Elections 1959 Singapore Elections Category:General elections in Singapore Singapore General