1963 Singaporean general election explained

Country:Malaysia
Flag Image:Flag of Singapore.svg
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1959 Singaporean general election
Previous Year:1959
Next Election:1968 Singaporean general election
Next Year:1968
Outgoing Members:2nd Legislative Assembly of Singapore
Election Date:21 September 1963
Elected Members:3rd Legislative Assembly of Singapore
Registered:617,750
Turnout:95.11% (5.04pp)
Seats For Election:All 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly
Majority Seats:26
Image1:Mr. Lee Kuan Yew Mayoral reception 1965 (cropped).jpg
Leader1:Lee Kuan Yew
Party1:People's Action Party
Last Election1:54.08%, 43 seats
Seats1:37
Seat Change1: 6
Popular Vote1:272,924
Percentage1:46.93%
Swing1: 7.15pp
Leader2:Lee Siew Choh
Party2:Barisan Sosialis
Last Election2:
Seats2:13
Seat Change2:New
Popular Vote2:193,301
Percentage2:33.24%
Swing2:New
Image3:3x4.svg
Leader3:Ong Eng Guan
Party3:United People's Party (Singapore)
Last Election3:
Seats3:1
Seat Change3:New
Popular Vote3:48,785
Percentage3:8.39%
Swing3:New
Prime Minister
Before Election:Lee Kuan Yew
Posttitle:Prime Minister after election
Before Party:People's Action Party
After Election:Lee Kuan Yew
After Party:People's Action Party

General elections were held in Singapore on 21 September 1963, five days after Singapore became part of Malaysia. Voters elected all 51 members of the Legislative Assembly. The elections were the only ones to date with no boundary changes to any existing constituencies prior to the elections. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party (PAP), which won 37 of the 51 seats, while the majority of the remaining seats were won by Barisan Sosialis (BS).

The ruling party of Malaysia, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), contested the elections as part of the Singapore Alliance Party (SAP) in an attempt to oust the PAP, violating a previous agreement not to do so and straining relations between the two parties. The Alliance lost all seven seats which it held prior to the elections. Their participation in the elections prompted the PAP to contest seats in Peninsula Malaysia in the next federal election held in 1964, further adding to more tension between the two ruling parties.

As Singapore would gain independence in 1965, the elections were the only ones held as a state of Malaysia. After independence, the elected members of the Legislative Assembly would then become Members of the inaugural Parliament of Singapore.

A total of 210 candidates contested the elections – making it the largest slate of candidates to contest ever in Singapore's history. The ruling PAP – 51 candidates, its breakaway parties BS – 46 candidates and UPP – 46 candidates and the Alliance, the Singapore branch of the Malaysian federal ruling coalition – 42 candidates all vied to form the next government. This also marked the last time that any other party than the PAP would field candidates in more than half the total parliamentary seats. With two breakaway factions of the PAP fielding nearly full slate of candidates, this was the most hard fought election in Singapore's history and particularly for the ruling PAP.

This was the most recent general election in which the PAP received less than half of the popular vote, at only 47%. It was also the last general election in which an incumbent minister was defeated until 2011 and the last general election in which all seats were contested until 2015.

Background

Although the People's Action Party (PAP) had won 43 seats in the 1959 elections, they lost four seats in 1961 (two were from the by-election defeats, and two defected to the new United People's Party (UPP)). A further 13 legislators were expelled from PAP for voting against the government in a no-confidence motion on 20 July 1961; the dissidents subsequently formed a new party, the Barisan Sosialis (BS), alleging PAP as a communist front. The combination of by-election defeats, defections and expulsions reduced the PAP by 17 seats down to 26, leaving PAP with a one-seat majority.

On 3 July 1962, while the integration referendum debate was in procession, the PAP lost its majority following the resignation of legislator Ho Puay Choo (who later joined BS on 11 August). Five days later, UPP legislator S. V. Lingam returned to PAP fold, giving it back its one-seat majority. However, the PAP lost its majority again five days later after health minister Ahmad Ibrahim died from liver cancer. BS initially planned to field its iconic leader, Lim Chin Siong, in the vacated seat, but the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opted against a by-election, and instead called a fresh election.

On 31 August 1963, Singapore was declared independent from the United Kingdom with PAP declared as trustees until the merger with Malaysia could be complete. On 3 September, Lee dissolved the Legislative Assembly in accordance with procedure, and called for elections to be held on 21 September.

Timeline

3 SeptemberDissolution of 2nd Legislative Assembly
12 SeptemberNomination Day
21 SeptemberPolling day
22 OctoberOpening of 3rd Legislative Assembly

Campaign

The elections, held in the midst of Singapore's merger with Malaysia, are remembered as the PAP's hardest-fought as the party faced intensive challenges from three other parties that fielded nearly full slates. BS collated with Parti Rakyat, and fielded candidates in all but two seats, while UPP had an unusually large number of candidates. The PAP government launched Operation Coldstore on 2 February 1963 and detained several BS leaders, including Lim.

On the final night of campaigning, PAP officials warned that should BS win the election and defeat PAP, the Malaysia Federal government could send troops into Singapore to invoke emergency powers in place of the incoming government led by the new pro-communist party, leaving no opportunity for BS to respond. This was said to have accounted for the eventual victory of the PAP the following day.

The sole Workers' Party (WP) legislator David Marshall resigned from the party he founded and became the only independent. Another participant was Singapore Alliance, an extension of the ruling federal Alliance Party in Malaysia, which was a coalition consisting of the Singapore People's Alliance (SPA) along with the local branches of UMNO, the Malayan Chinese Association and Malayan Indian Congress. However, former Chief Minister and leader Lim Yew Hock opted not to run in the elections, citing a defamation campaign by the PAP.[1]

Results

See main article: Results of the 1963 Singaporean general election.

The PAP won a landslide victory, securing a two-thirds majority, an outcome that had been in doubt or unexpected in the lead-up to the vote. However, the party's vote share was its lowest-ever at just under 47%. Despite the BS and UPP winning a combined 14 seats, both parties failed to win most of the seats they contested, due to the split of the anti-PAP vote. A total of 92 candidates lost their deposits.

The Singapore Alliance lost all seven seats it had held before dissolution, losing even in core support areas such as Malay constituencies Kampong Kembangan, Geylang Serai and Southern Islands.

Nine incumbent members failed to be re-elected, among which the defeats of Kenneth Michael Byrne and Tan Kia Gan (in the seats of Crawford and Paya Lebar, respectively) marked the first time a higher-ranked PAP cabinet minister had been defeated in their constituencies. This would not happen again until the 2011 elections, 48 years and 11 elections later, where cabinet ministers Lim Hwee Hua and George Yeo were defeated in his constituency of Aljunied.

By constituency

ConstituencyElectoratePartyCandidateVotes%
Aljunied16,152bgcolor=People's Action PartyS. V. Lingam7,74550.90
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisThio Kheng Lock4,62430.39
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLim Koon Teck1,68111.05
bgcolor=United People's PartyWoo Kong Seng1,1657.66
Anson9,192bgcolor=People's Action PartyP. Govindasamy3,95746.90
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisChan Chong Keen3,12337.02
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyA. K. Isaac5436.44
bgcolor=IndependentDavid Marshall4164.93
bgcolor=United People's PartyVythalingam V.3063.63
bgcolor=Workers' PartyChiang Seok Keong911.08
Bras Basah10,678bgcolor=People's Action PartyHo See Beng4,92651.80
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLeong Kwan Fai3,83140.28
bgcolor=United People's PartyPan Cheng Luan3353.52
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyWong Chin Sen3043.20
bgcolor=Workers' PartyChua Chin Kiat1141.20
Bukit Merah12,225bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLim Huan Boon4,96342.84
bgcolor=People's Action PartySellappa Ramaswamy4,52039.02
bgcolor=United People's PartyPoon Weng Ying1,1299.75
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyShums Tung Tao Chang7406.39
bgcolor=IndependentNgon Eng Kok2322.00
Bukit Panjang12,997bgcolor=Barisan SosialisOng Lian Teng5,67946.45
bgcolor=People's Action PartyLee Khoon Choy4,94040.41
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLoo Bah Chit9998.17
bgcolor=United People's PartyThuan Paik Phok6074.97
Bukit Timah12,502bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLee Tee Tong6,17352.39
bgcolor=People's Action PartyChor Yeok Eng4,98242.28
bgcolor=United People's PartyOng Tiong Kuan6285.33
Cairnhill12,340bgcolor=People's Action PartyLim Kim San7,74966.46
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLim Ang Chuan2,44320.95
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLee Ah Seong1,46712.59
Changi11,866bgcolor=People's Action PartySim Boon Woo4,80842.78
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisSiek Shing Min3,42530.48
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyDato Syed Esa1,97517.57
bgcolor=United People's PartyAbdullah Masood9358.32
bgcolor=IndependentM. N. Yahya950.85
Chua Chu Kang8,198bgcolor=Barisan SosialisChio Cheng Thun3,75348.59
bgcolor=People's Action PartyLim Kim Hian2,42931.45
bgcolor=United People's PartySim Chit Giak80010.36
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyNeo Guan Choo3965.13
bgcolor=IndependentGoh Tong Liang3454.47
Crawford10,949bgcolor=Barisan SosialisT. Bani4,40042.75
bgcolor=People's Action PartyK. M. Byrne4,20740.88
bgcolor=United People's PartyLau Tok Keong1,03210.03
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyS. A. Hsieh5715.55
bgcolor=Workers' PartyGoh Tong Liang810.79
Delta14,037bgcolor=People's Action PartyChan Choy Siong5,41740.53
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisWee Toon Lip5,35440.07
bgcolor=United People's PartyChen Chia Kuang2,23316.71
bgcolor=IndependentWong Kui Yu3592.69
Farrer Park10,189bgcolor=People's Action PartyS. Rajoo5,36555.71
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLee Chin Siang2,61927.20
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyArumugam Ponnu Rajah1,23212.79
bgcolor=United People's PartyWee Kia Eng4144.30
Geylang East16,014bgcolor=People's Action PartyHo Cheng Choon7,16547.28
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisPhua Soon Lian5,38935.56
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyNg Cheng Chwee1,4679.68
bgcolor=United People's PartyTan Peng Seah1,1347.48
Geylang Serai15,302bgcolor=People's Action PartyRahamat bin Kenap6,72248.01
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAhmad b. Hj. Taff5,01935.85
bgcolor=Pan-Malayan Islamic PartyM. Taha Suhaimi1,2018.58
bgcolor=IndependentDarus Shariff1,0597.56
Geylang West15,386bgcolor=People's Action PartyYong Nyuk Lin6,28843.63
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisUn Hon Kun5,67039.34
bgcolor=United People's PartyKum Teng Hock1,54110.69
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyMohd. B. Hj. Yacob9146.34
Havelock15,159bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLoh Miaw Gong6,30444.05
bgcolor=People's Action PartyWong Chun Choi4,15729.05
bgcolor=United People's PartyNg Chee Sen3,20922.42
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLim Ser Puan6414.48
Hong Lim12,003bgcolor=United People's PartyOng Eng Guan5,06644.47
bgcolor=People's Action PartySeah Mui Kok3,78933.27
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLim Chien Sen2,34420.58
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartySam Tai Guan1911.68
Jalan Besar13,764bgcolor=People's Action PartyChan Chee Seng6,68651.87
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisNg Ngeong Yew5,17240.12
bgcolor=United People's PartyYong Wan Kit1,0338.01
Jalan Kayu9,164bgcolor=Barisan SosialisTan Cheng Tong3,31238.04
bgcolor=People's Action PartyTeo Hup Teck2,67630.73
bgcolor=United People's PartyLui Boon Phor1,14613.16
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyM. P. D. Nair1,05712.14
bgcolor=IndependentOng Yu Thoh5165.93
Joo Chiat14,966bgcolor=People's Action PartyFong Kim Heng9,30065.88
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLeong Keng Seng3,73726.48
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartySeow Peck Leng1,0787.64
Jurong7,611bgcolor=Barisan SosialisChia Thye Poh3,97355.85
bgcolor=People's Action PartyOng Soo Chuan2,26831.89
bgcolor=United People's PartySoh U Loh5017.04
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyWong Tuck Leong3715.22
Kallang16,974bgcolor=People's Action PartyBuang bin Omar Junid8,47952.21
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisP. Oorjitham5,21532.11
bgcolor=United People's PartyMohd. Shariff B. D.1,1667.18
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyTan Hock Lim9695.97
bgcolor=IndependentTan Hai Tong4112.53
Kampong Glam10,186bgcolor=People's Action PartyS. Rajaratnam4,31344.79
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisTan Jing Quee4,09342.50
bgcolor=United People's PartyHarbans Singh1,22412.71
Kampong Kapor11,672bgcolor=People's Action PartyM. Awang4,55441.93
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLim Hock Thiam4,15538.27
bgcolor=United People's PartyNalliah Karuppiah1,14310.53
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyChia Ban Wei1,0069.27
Kampong Kembangan15,787bgcolor=People's Action PartyAriff B. Suradi Mohamed7,12748.31
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAli Alwi3,69225.03
bgcolor=Partai RakyatSaleha Binte Md. Shah2,67418.13
bgcolor=United People's PartyIbrahim B. Jaffar9146.20
bgcolor=Pan-Malayan Islamic PartyMohd. Dali B. Muin3442.33
Kreta Ayer13,103bgcolor=People's Action PartyGoh Keng Swee8,05965.47
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLau Peter3,64629.62
bgcolor=United People's PartyLoke Wan6044.91
Moulmein10,670bgcolor=People's Action PartyAvadai Dhanam Lakshimi-Devan Nair5,85658.00
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisTann Wee Tiong3,05130.22
bgcolor=United People's PartyNeo Hay Chan5755.69
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyKoh Chiat Lim5425.37
bgcolor=IndependentSoo Tho Siu Hee730.72
Mountbatten16,843bgcolor=People's Action PartyNg Yeow Chong7,75148.97
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisFung Yin Ching5,15832.59
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLee Kim Chuan1,86511.78
bgcolor=IndependentFelice Leon-Soh1,0536.66
Nee Soon10,064bgcolor=Barisan SosialisChan Sun Wing4,91451.33
bgcolor=People's Action PartyHow Kang Yong3,32934.77
bgcolor=United People's PartyGoh Soo Ming8649.02
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyYeo Teo Bok3643.80
bgcolor=IndependentLim Siak Guan1031.08
Pasir Panjang6,721bgcolor=People's Action PartyOthman Wok2,87945.30
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisTay Cheng Kang1,88729.69
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAhmad bin Rahmat1,35121.26
bgcolor=United People's PartyYong Ah Kau2383.75
Paya Lebar13,544bgcolor=Barisan SosialisKow Kee Seng6,15247.96
bgcolor=People's Action PartyTan Kia Gan5,40242.11
bgcolor=United People's PartyYeo Keng Wee8586.69
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyGoh Yeow Dek4153.24
Punggol10,294bgcolor=People's Action PartyNg Kah Ting4,72147.76
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisKoh Chit Kiang2,86028.93
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyTan Jin Hong1,32013.35
bgcolor=United People's PartyLee Jiak Seck9849.96
Queenstown16,133bgcolor=People's Action PartyJek Yeun Thong8,16552.81
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLee Ek Chong5,58936.15
bgcolor=United People's PartyNg Ho9095.88
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLee Khee Loong7985.16
River Valley10,532bgcolor=People's Action PartyLim Cheng Lock5,59756.67
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisGoh Lam San2,66827.01
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyYap Pheng Geck1,15611.71
bgcolor=United People's PartyChung Kit Wong4554.61
Rochore11,698bgcolor=People's Action PartyToh Chin Chye5,01545.56
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLee Siew Choh4,92644.75
bgcolor=United People's PartyPan Tiek Tai1,0679.69
Sembawang9,329bgcolor=People's Action PartyTeong Eng Siong3,74542.17
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisChen Poh Chang3,59140.43
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAppavoo P.1,19713.48
bgcolor=United People's PartyLow Seng Wan3483.92
Sepoy Lines10,046bgcolor=People's Action PartyWee Toon Boon4,90752.25
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisOng Chang Sam3,14733.51
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyGoh Su Chiang7938.44
bgcolor=United People's PartyTan Choon Sing5455.80
Serangoon Gardens8,765bgcolor=People's Action PartyR. A. Gonzales4,45653.40
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisNg Hui Sim2,69832.33
bgcolor=United People's PartyNg Teo Joo7368.82
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyChoy Kok Wah4555.45
Siglap15,915bgcolor=People's Action PartyAbdul Rahim Ishak9,34262.12
bgcolor=Partai RakyatTay Check Yaw2,61817.41
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartySoo Ban Hoe1,4889.89
bgcolor=United People's PartyOng Jin Teck1,3659.08
bgcolor=IndependentKoh Tee Kin2251.50
Southern Islands5,236bgcolor=People's Action PartyYaacob bin Mohamed2,76455.41
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAhmad Jabri b. Akib2,22444.59
Stamford11,628bgcolor=People's Action PartyFong Sip Chee5,78153.27
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisTeo Hock Guan3,71934.27
bgcolor=United People's PartyLim Chung Min7717.10
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLal Behari Singh5825.36
Tampines13,137bgcolor=Barisan SosialisPoh Ber Liak5,97648.33
bgcolor=People's Action PartyGoh Chew Chua3,60129.13
bgcolor=United People's PartyLiam Tian Seng2,13017.23
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyLim Jew Kan6565.31
Tanglin9,239bgcolor=People's Action PartyEdmund W. Barker4,42451.07
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisTan Cheow Hock1,99723.06
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyThio Chan Bee1,73820.07
bgcolor=United People's PartyEng Chau Sam3363.88
bgcolor=IndependentAriffin b. Md Said1661.92
Tanjong Pagar11,395bgcolor=People's Action PartyLee Kuan Yew6,31758.93
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisOng Hock Siang3,53732.99
bgcolor=United People's PartyLim Peng Kang4734.41
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyChng Boon Eng3933.67
Telok Ayer13,219bgcolor=People's Action PartyOng Pang Boon5,39044.01
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisLam Chit Lee4,98740.72
bgcolor=United People's PartyGoh Hong Keng1,48412.12
bgcolor=IndependentWang Chung Kwang3853.15
Telok Blangah13,263bgcolor=People's Action PartyBernard Rodrigues4,94939.82
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisJukri b. Parjo4,32734.82
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAbdul Rahman2,62721.14
bgcolor=United People's PartyTan Swee Huat5254.22
Thomson11,336bgcolor=Barisan SosialisKoo Young5,29249.17
bgcolor=People's Action PartyLeo Keng Fong4,24839.47
bgcolor=United People's PartyLoo Ka Thiam1,22311.36
Tiong Bahru12,534bgcolor=People's Action PartyLee Teck Him5,73148.15
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisSoon Dit Woo3,79831.91
bgcolor=United People's PartyNg Teng Kian1,0889.14
bgcolor=IndependentWilliam Tan7776.53
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyTan Kok Siong5084.27
Toa Payoh13,394bgcolor=Barisan SosialisWong Soon Fong6,08348.20
bgcolor=People's Action PartyYip Sai Weng4,27633.88
bgcolor=United People's PartyGoh Nee Kim1,50111.89
United Democratic PartyTan Chor Yong7606.03
Ulu Pandan11,866bgcolor=People's Action PartyChow Chiok Hock5,00044.86
bgcolor=Partai RakyatJohari bin Sonto2,96726.62
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyAnang b. H. A. Manan1,72915.51
bgcolor=United People's PartyLer Chin Tee1,45013.01
Upper Serangoon12,433bgcolor=People's Action PartySia Kah Hui6,65056.56
bgcolor=Barisan SosialisChia Yang Loong3,54730.17
bgcolor=United People's PartyPhua Gek Boon5955.06
bgcolor=IndependentLim Choon Mong5734.87
bgcolor=Singapore Alliance PartyWu Moh Chye3933.34
Source: ELD, Singapore Elections

Aftermath

Analysis of the election suggested that reasons for the PAP victory included:[2]

To discourage future defections, the PAP government passed a constitutional amendment stipulating that legislators who resign or are expelled from the parties they were elected under would lose their seats. As a result, by-elections were subsequently held in Hong Lim in 1965, seven constituencies in 1966 and five constituencies in 1967. Those victories resulted PAP in achieving a parliament monopoly that would last for the next 15 years until the first elected opposition MP in 1981. The changes during the 1963–1968 parliamentary term remain the biggest turnover of MPs in post-independence Singapore.

The distribution of 15 Singapore seats in Malaysia's lower house of Parliament (Dewan Rakyat) was based on the outcome of the election. PAP was allocated 12, which were given to Prime Minister Lee, Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye, ministers Goh Keng Swee, Ong Pang Boon, S. Rajaratnam, Yong Nyuk Lin, Jek Yeun Thong, Lim Kim San, Othman Wok and assembly members Abdul Rahim Ishak, Wee Toon Boon and Ho See Beng. BS was allocated 3: Chia Thye Poh, Lim Huan Boon and Kow Kee Seng.[3] [4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lau, Albert . A Moment of Anguish: Singapore in Malaysia and the Politics of Disengagement . Times Academic Press . 1998 . Singapore . 981-210-1349 .
  2. Book: Men in White: The Untold Story of Singapore's Ruling Political Party. Sonny Yap. Richard Lim. Leong Weng Kam . 2010 . . Singapore.
  3. Web site: LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1963 . Singapore Elections . 5 April 2020 . 6 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200606092101/http://singapore-elections.com/general-election/1963/ . dead .
  4. Web site: PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT . . 19 August 2019.