1959 Singaporean general election

Elections to the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Singapore

General elections were held in Singapore on 30 May 1959. They were held under the new constitution and were the first in which all 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly were filled by election. This was the first election victory for the People's Action Party (PAP), as they won a landslide victory with 43 seats. The party has remained in power ever since.

David Marshall, the politician who led the ruling Labour Front after winning the previous general election in 1955, was vocally anti British and anti colonialist, and the British found it difficult to come to an agreement or a compromise about a plan for self government; Marshall resigned from the party a year later, pledging that he would either achieve self government or to resign. In his place, Lim Yew Hock pursued an aggressive anti communist campaign and manage to convince the British to make a definite plan for self government. By the time of the 1959 elections the Labour Front was in turmoil; Lim's strategy against the communists alienated a large part of the Chinese Singaporean electorate, which was the demographic targeted most during the anti communist campaign. Lim's campaign also saw allegations of civil rights violations as many activists were detained without trial with the justification of internal security and tear gas were used against demonstrating students during the 1956 Chinese middle schools riots which were both anti colonialist and anti communist alike.

The Constitution of Singapore was revised accordingly in 1958, replacing the Rendel Constitution with one that granted Singapore self government and the ability for its own population to fully elect its Legislative Assembly. Previously under the Rendel Constitution, drawn up in 1955 by a commission led by George William Rendel, the Legislative Assembly and its leaders could not fully be determined by the population; the British government appointed seven of the 32 members, with the remaining 25 seats elected by the public, albeit with limited suffrage. This itself was an improvement from the pre 1955 Legislative Council, electing nine members to the council. This election was the first election after its full internal self government granted by the British authorities; Singapore was now a recognised state, but was yet to gain full independence since the British still have external affairs such as the military and foreign relations. Due to the removal of suffrage restrictions, voting was implemented to be compulsory for the first time, and had done so in every election since 1959.

Many of the campaign issues surrounded the topic of government corruption and independence of Singapore, as well as political issues such as the communist insurgency led by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), which had been causing the Malayan Emergency. The desire for independence and self government epitomised by the Malay term Merdeka (which translates to Independence or Free), had started to become immediate. This was reflected when the cry of "We want Merdeka now!" was taken up by those demanding immediate independence. Prior to the polling day, the press had predicted that the presence of multi cornered fights would only split the anti PAP vote, raising chances of a PAP victory.

The Chew Swee Kee affair was also a notable issue raised in the May 1959 elections. In February 1959, PAP charged the incumbent SPA government with receiving political funds from the United States government. Investigations by a Commission of Inquiry later revealed that Chew Swee Kee, who was then Education Minister, had converted the alleged funds for his own use. The claim has it that Chew accepted around $700,000 to $800,000 from an unrevealed donor in New York City as a "political gift". Chew promptly stepped down from his post on 4 March 1959. The incident is credited for causing the SPA's downfall. The revelation had a devastating effect on the image of SPA as the party was seen to be serving a Western power, betraying Singapore's anti colonial movement.

The result was a landslide win for the PAP, with the SPA lost 35 of the 39 contested constituencies and only four members represented the new Assembly, while both the Labour Front and its right wing coalition party, the Liberal Socialist Party (which formed by a merger of the Democratic Party and Progressive Party) saw disastrous performances and neither party won seats; a total of 73 candidates (including 20 LSP candidates) lost their $500 election deposit. PAP candidate Wong Soon Fong was the best performing candidate in this election in percentage terms, polling 77.66% while LSP candidate Lillian Tan was the worst performing candidate polling 0.82%. In absolute numbers, PAP's Goh Keng Swee was the best performing candidate polling 9,313 votes while LSP's Lillian Tan was the worst performing candidate polling 64 votes. The River Valley constituency had the narrowest winning margin in Singaporean elections to date, with the PAP's Lim Cheng Lock winning the election by just five votes (0.05%) against the runner up SPA's Soh Ghee Soon. The elections, which saw implementations of compulsory voting and the removal of suffrage restrictions, saw a huge increase in voter turnout, with 90.07% of voters voting (or 527,919 of the 586,098 registered voters), compared to 52.66% from the previous election.

ConstituencyElectoratePartyCandidateVotes%Aljunied13,255People's Action PartyS. V. Lingam5,70149.40Liberal Socialist PartyE. H. Holloway5,00443.36Partai RakyatTang Yoong Chiaw8357.24Anson9,921People's Action PartyBaharudin bin Mohamed Ariff5,16760.75Singapore People's AllianceGoh Kong Beng1,87522.04Liberal Socialist PartyTan Cheng Chuan1,23114.47IndependentWong Swee Kee1171.38IndependentP. Krishanan1161.36Bras Basah11,193People's Action PartyHoe Puay Choo6,01463.25Liberal Socialist PartyFoo Ho Fang1,99320.96Singapore People's AllianceGoh Hin Shong1,50115.79Bukit Merah11,286People's Action PartySellappa Ramaswamy5,92259.09Singapore People's AllianceTeo Cheng Hye3,02630.20IndependentLee Choon Eng1,07310.71Bukit Panjang11,984People's Action PartyLee Khoon Choy6,15658.31Liberal Socialist PartyTan Leong Teck2,49423.62Singapore People's AllianceLim Siak Guan1,38213.09Malayan Indian CongressT. K. Alexander5264.98Bukit Timah11,285People's Action PartyYaacob bin Mohamed6,17461.14Liberal Socialist PartyPek Cheng Chuan2,46024.36IndependentLee Yew Seng1,46414.50Cairnhill12,239Singapore People's AllianceLim Yew Hock5,27548.22Workers' PartyDavid Marshall2,92026.69People's Action PartyMd. Oh Su Chen2,26220.68Liberal Socialist PartyTan Keng Siong4834.41Changi11,199People's Action PartyTeo Hock Guan3,48035.10United Malays National OrganisationA. B. Rahman H. M. Said2,81828.43IndependentLim Cher Kheng2,22522.45Liberal Socialist PartyWee Tin Teck1,02410.33Malay UnionFatimah Nor Bt. G. S.3663.69Chua Chu Kang6,889People's Action PartyOng Chang Sam3,53656.29IndependentNeo Koon Hin1,56324.88Singapore People's AllianceGoh Tong Liang1,18318.83Crawford12,031People's Action PartyKenneth Michael Byrne7,12066.57Singapore People's AllianceTeng Ling Siong2,48723.25Liberal Socialist PartyChua Seng Kian8978.39IndependentSim John1911.79Delta14,954People's Action PartyChan Choy Siong9,30169.45Malayan Chinese AssociationChia Chee Buang1,2129.05Liberal Socialist PartyLim Ah Lee2,30817.23Singapore People's AllianceMunusamy Nadarajah5714.27Farrer Park10,293IndependentArumugam Ponnu Rajah4,07744.52People's Action PartyTan Teck Ngiap3,83241.85IndependentSoo Tho Sin Hee7898.62IndependentChan Kooi Chew3113.40Geylang East15,562People's Action PartyMohamed Ismail bin Abdul Rahim7,15351.95Singapore People's AllianceNg Cheng Chwee5,77541.94IndependentMak Pak Shee8426.11Geylang Serai14,447United Malays National OrganisationAbdul Hamid Jumat7,94063.09People's Action PartyRoshan bin Hassan3,83230.45Pan Malayan Islamic PartySyed Ahmad Dahlan4603.66Partai RakyatHarun bin Mohamed Amin3532.80Geylang West15,570People's Action PartyYong Nyuk Lin8,92367.60Singapore People's AllianceKwek Sam Hock4,27632.40Havelock15,909People's Action PartyLau Peter9,22763.60IndependentNg See Thong3,56224.55Singapore People's AllianceTan Theng Chiang9636.64Malayan Chinese AssociationK. S. Loke4332.98Liberal Socialist PartyTan Ah Pak3232.23Hong Lim12,667People's Action PartyOng Eng Guan8,83477.02Malayan Chinese AssociationLoh Ngian Lim1,19210.39Liberal Socialist PartyTan Hong Chye8567.46Singapore People's AllianceSim Wee Teck5885.13Jalan Besar13,877People's Action PartyChan Chee Seng7,60062.48Singapore People's AllianceWong Yew Hon2,57321.15Liberal Socialist PartyLo Ka Fat1,48812.23Labour FrontSee Eng Kiat5034.14Jalan Kayu8,690People's Action PartyTan Cheng Tong4,83762.28Singapore People's AllianceM. P. D. Nair2,92937.72Joo Chiat15,257Singapore People's AllianceC. H. Koh6,13645.87People's Action PartyFong Kim Heng5,30139.63Liberal Socialist PartyGay Wan Guay1,2159.08Katong United Residents' AssociationLow Teck Cheng4053.03IndependentHenry Chong3202.39Jurong7,176People's Action PartyChor Yeok Eng4,50270.67Singapore People's AllianceWong Tuck Leong1,32520.80Liberal Socialist PartyChia Yeck Poh3755.89Malay UnionAman B. H. Subri1682.64Kallang12,939People's Action PartyBuang bin Omar Junid5,69048.18Singapore People's AllianceTan Hai Tong4,96742.05Citizens' PartySeah Peng Chuan1,1547.18Kampong Glam10,934People's Action PartyS. Rajaratnam6,32465.27Singapore People's AllianceMahmood Latiff1,74718.03Liberal Socialist PartyOng Eng Lian1,37714.21IndependentWu Shiaw2412.49Kampong Kapor12,736People's Action PartyG. Kandasamy6,05954.27Singapore People's AllianceChia Ban Wei3,63232.53IndependentJaganathan S7116.37IndependentChoo Yeok Koon4323.87Citizens' PartyYen Jen San3302.96Kampong Kembangan13,007United Malays National OrganisationMohd. Ali b. Alwi4,44338.86People's Action PartyOthman Wok4,19936.73Singapore People's AllianceMohd. b. Hj. Yacob2,02817.74Pan Malayan Islamic PartyH. M. Yahiya3172.77Partai RakyatA. Latiff b. Ibrahim2312.02Malay UnionJaffar b. Abdul Ghani2151.88Kreta Ayer14,173People's Action PartyGoh Keng Swee9,31373.35Liberal Socialist PartyPang Man Ming3,38426.65Moulmein10,095People's Action PartyLin You Eng4,32447.25Singapore People's AllianceYap Jin Yau3,95543.22Liberal Socialist PartyTan Peng Khoo8729.53Mountbatten10,212Singapore People's AllianceChua Seng Kim3,03133.71People's Action PartyTay Kum Sun2,14323.84Malayan Chinese AssociationWong Foo Nam1,90321.17Katong United Residents' AssociationFelice Leon Soh1,35415.06Liberal Socialist PartyWee Soo Bee5596.22Nee Soon8,694People's Action PartySheng Nam Chin5,62273.30Singapore People's AllianceYap Chin Poh1,47619.24Liberal Socialist PartyYong Nyuk Khoon5727.46Pasir Panjang6,631People's Action PartyTee Kim Leng2,12336.00IndependentH. J. C. Kulasingha1,88431.95United Malays National OrganisationSukaimi bin Ibrahim1,70428.90IndependentS. T. V. Lingam1863.15Paya Lebar12,089People's Action PartyTan Kia Gan6,53160.81IndependentOng Chye Hock4,20939.19Punggol9,893People's Action PartyNg Teng Kian4,07246.39Singapore People's AllianceTan Jin Hong3,65541.64Liberal Socialist PartyQuah Heck Peck5546.31IndependentTay Keng Hock4975.66Queenstown10,634People's Action PartyLee Siew Choh5,30153.81Singapore People's AllianceChee Phui Hung3,73237.88IndependentLee Kim Chuan8188.31River Valley10,594People's Action PartyLim Cheng Lock3,43036.55Singapore People's AllianceSoh Ghee Soon3,42536.50Liberal Socialist PartyE. K. Tan2,52926.95Rochore12,436People's Action PartyToh Chin Chye7,99571.76Singapore People's AllianceK. C. Thomas2,21219.85Liberal Socialist PartyTan Soo Wan9348.39Sembawang8,859People's Action PartyAhmad Ibrahim4,31654.69Malayan Indian CongressV. Jayaram1,56619.84Singapore People's AllianceChew Seng1,08413.74Liberal Socialist PartyLau Sai Seng92611.73Sepoy Lines10,347People's Action PartyWee Toon Boon5,35258.35Singapore People's AllianceGoh Su Chiang3,82041.65Serangoon Gardens8,631People's Action PartyLeong Keng Seng3,84348.93Singapore People's AllianceWee Eric Sian Beng2,76435.19Malayan Chinese AssociationLiao Ping85310.86Labour FrontVictor Louis Fernandez3304.20Liberal Socialist PartyLilian Tan640.82Siglap14,693People's Action PartySahorah bte Ahmat4,40734.34IndependentKoh Tee Kin3,40826.56Liberal Socialist PartyJohn Snodgrass1,51111.78United Malays National OrganisationInche Sidik1,41811.05IndependentAbdullah Masood1,2679.87Partai RakyatPang Toon Tin5874.57Pan Malayan Islamic PartyA. Wanjor2341.83Southern Islands5,325United Malays National OrganisationAhmad Jabri B. M. Akib2,59853.73People's Action PartyKum Teng Hock1,22525.34Liberal Socialist PartyIsmail Haji Hussain1,01220.93Stamford12,392People's Action PartyFung Yin Ching5,37249.18Singapore People's AllianceJ. M. Jumabhoy3,81034.88Workers' PartyAng Meng Gee9258.47Liberal Socialist PartyHooi Beng Guan6796.22IndependentWong Chee Lim1361.25Tampines11,468People's Action PartyGoh Chew Chua7,46173.27Singapore People's AllianceOng Phi Hok2,04120.04IndependentLim Choo Ten6816.69Tanglin9,127Singapore People's AllianceThio Chan Bee2,69834.41United Malays National OrganisationAhmad b. Hj. Taff2,38630.44People's Action PartyIbrahim bin Othman2,36030.11Liberal Socialist PartyChan Ah Wing3955.04Tanjong Pagar11,939People's Action PartyLee Kuan Yew7,61771.04Liberal Socialist PartyC. Subramanyam3,10528.96Telok Ayer13,998People's Action PartyOng Pang Boon8,37267.38Singapore People's AllianceTan Kian Kee2,10616.95IndependentTay Soo Yong1,66013.36Citizens' PartySoh Teck Chee2872.31Telok Blangah13,202People's Action PartyJohn Mammen5,80350.41United Malays National OrganisationOsman Gani4,14135.97Citizens' PartyWee Kim Hock1,23010.69IndependentV. Mariappan3372.93Thomson10,067People's Action PartyS. T. Bani4,97854.63Labour FrontFrancis Thomas2,58128.33Singapore People's AllianceYap Chin Choon1,55317.04Tiong Bahru12,151People's Action PartyLee Teck Him5,17547.66Singapore People's AllianceLin Wo Ling2,18220.09IndependentWilliam Tan1,73015.93Liberal Socialist PartyLee Bah Chee9969.17IndependentLim Huan Seng4944.55Workers' PartyChua Chin Kiat2822.60Toa Payoh12,551People's Action PartyWong Soon Fong8,69377.66Singapore People's AllianceLee Poh Chee2,50022.34Ulu Pandan11,017People's Action PartyMohd. Ariff bin Suradi4,42045.44Singapore People's AllianceLeslie Rayner3,10031.87IndependentS. Khalaff1,08311.13IndependentLow Boon Kiat3613.71IndependentAnthony Ponnusamy2963.04Liberal Socialist PartyM. Karthigesu2842.92IndependentChua Kim Toh1831.89Upper Serangoon11,279People's Action PartyChan Sun Wing4,49745.06Singapore People's AllianceLim Choon Mong4,37243.81Liberal Socialist PartySim Cho Lang9019.03Citizens' PartyTan Choon Teng2092.10Source: ELD, Singapore Elections

The PAP was able to form a new government which could now adopt domestic policy without oversight from the colonial administration. The United Kingdom still however controlled the military forces, foreign affairs and had a joint responsibility in internal security under agreement. However, historians saw 1959 as the year Singapore achieved self governance as a result of the new government, even though the Constitution had been amended in 1958. On the afternoon of 5 June, Lee Kuan Yew was sworn in as the first Prime Minister at City Hall by Yang di Pertuan Negara William Goode along with members of his cabinet. Before taking over, Lee pardoned several PAP members, who had been arrested under the Emergency Regulation in 1956 and 1957, including left wing leader Lim Chin Siong. During the election campaign, Lee had called for pardon as part of his election platform, causing an increase of morale of many trade union members. After their release, Lim and his affiliates would later challenge Lee's leadership in the PAP, leading to the expulsion of most of the left wing members from the PAP in 1961. The expelled members would then form the Barisan Sosialis, and posed a strong challenge against the PAP on the next election in 1963; although being crippled by Operation Coldstore, they came closer to removing the PAP from power than any other party to date.

Two by elections, both held in 1961, occurred during the term in Parliament. Former PAP minister Ong Eng Guan was re elected in Hong Lim running as an independent after leaving the PAP, whilst David Marshall was elected in Anson after the death of PAP MP Baharuddin Mohammed Ariff.