1963 Singaporean general election

General elections were held in Singapore on 21 September 1963, five days after the merger with Malaysia. The elections saw the Malaysian ruling party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), backed with Singapore Alliance Party (SAP) in an attempt to oust the People's Action Party (PAP), after violating previous agreement not to do so and a highlight in the relations between UMNO and the PAP. However, the result was a victory for the PAP, which won 37 of the 51 seats in the Singapore Legislative Assembly. The 1963 election was the only election to date with no boundary changes to any of the 51 existing constituencies.

1963 Singapore state election
21 September 1963
All 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly
26 seats needed for a majority
Turnout587,433 (95.1%)
  First party Second party Third party
  SA
Leader Lee Kuan Yew Lee Siew Choh Lim Yew Hock
Party PAP BS Singapore Alliance Party
Leader's seat Tanjong Pagar Rochore
(lost)		 Did not contest
Last election 43 seats, 54.1% New New
Seats won 37 13 0
Seat change 6 New New
Popular vote 272,924 193,301 48,967
Percentage 46.9% 33.2% 8.4%
Swing 7.2% New New
  Fourth party
 
Leader Ong Eng Guan
Party UPP
Leader's seat Hong Lim
Last election New
Seats won 1
Seat change New
Popular vote 48,785
Percentage 8.4%
Swing New
Prime Minister before election

Lee Kuan Yew
PAP

 Prime Minister after election

Lee Kuan Yew
PAP

Singapore
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As Singapore gained independence in 1965, this election was the only election that was 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.

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, 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, but five days later, PAP lost its majority again 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 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 most hard-fought election, as the party fielded a full slate and faced intensive challenges from three components that did nearly the same. BS collated with Parti Rakyat, and fielded candidates in all but two seats, while UPP had an unusual 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
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 lost their re-election on the election, 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.

Party Votes % Seats +/–
People's Action Party272,92446.937–6
Barisan Sosialis193,30133.213New
Singapore Alliance48,9678.40–3
United People's Party48,7858.41New
Partai Rakyat8,2591.400
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party1,5450.300
United Democratic Party7600.10New
Workers' Party2860.100
Independents6,7881.20–1
Invalid/blank votes5,818––––
Total587,433100510
Registered voters/turnout617,45095.1––
Source: Singapore Elections

By constituency
ConstituencyElectoratePartyCandidateVotes%
Aljunied 16,152 People's Action Party S. V. Lingam 7,745
50.90 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Thio Kheng Lock 4,624
30.39 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lim Koon Teck(Loses $500 deposit) 1,681
11.05 / 100
United People's Party Woo Kong Seng(Loses $500 deposit) 1,165
7.66 / 100
Anson 9,192 People's Action Party P. Govindasamy 3,957
46.90 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Chan Chong Keen 3,123
37.02 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party A. K. Isaac(Loses $500 deposit) 543
6.44 / 100
Independent David Marshall(Loses $500 deposit) 416
4.93 / 100
United People's Party Vythalingam V.(Loses $500 deposit) 306
3.63 / 100
Workers' Party Chiang Seok Keong(Loses $500 deposit) 91
1.08 / 100
Bras Basah 10,678 People's Action Party Ho See Beng 4,926
51.80 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Leong Kwan Fai 3,831
40.28 / 100
United People's Party Pan Cheng Luan(Loses $500 deposit) 335
3.52 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Wong Chin Sen(Loses $500 deposit) 304
3.20 / 100
Workers' Party Chua Chin Kiat(Loses $500 deposit) 114
1.20 / 100
Bukit Merah 12,225 Barisan Sosialis Lim Huan Boon 4,963
42.84 / 100
People's Action Party Sellappa Ramaswamy 4,520
39.02 / 100
United People's Party Poon Weng Ying(Loses $500 deposit) 1,129
9.75 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Shums Tung Tao Chang(Loses $500 deposit) 740
6.39 / 100
Independent Ngon Eng Kok(Loses $500 deposit) 232
2.00 / 100
Bukit Panjang 12,225 Barisan Sosialis Ong Lian Teng 5,679
46.45 / 100
People's Action Party Lee Khoon Choy 4,940
40.41 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Loo Bah Chit(Loses $500 deposit) 999
8.17 / 100
United People's Party Thuan Paik Phok(Loses $500 deposit) 607
4.97 / 100
Bukit Timah 12,502 Barisan Sosialis Lee Tee Tong 6,173
52.39 / 100
People's Action Party Chor Yeok Eng 4,982
42.28 / 100
United People's Party Ong Tiong Kuan(Loses $500 deposit) 628
5.33 / 100
Cairnhill 12,340 People's Action Party Lim Kim San 7,749
66.46 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lim Ang Chuan 2,443
20.95 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lee Ah Seong 1,467
12.59 / 100
Changi 11,866 People's Action Party Sim Boon Woo 4,808
42.78 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Siek Shing Min 3,425
30.48 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Dato Syed Esa 1,975
17.57 / 100
United People's Party Abdullah Masood(Loses $500 deposit) 935
8.32 / 100
Independent M. N. Yahya(Loses $500 deposit) 95
0.85 / 100
Chua Chu Kang 8,198 Barisan Sosialis Chio Cheng Thun 3,753
48.59 / 100
People's Action Party Lim Kim Hian 2,429
31.45 / 100
United People's Party Sim Chit Giak(Loses $500 deposit) 800
10.36 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Neo Guan Choo(Loses $500 deposit) 396
5.13 / 100
Independent Goh Tong Liang(Loses $500 deposit) 345
4.47 / 100
Crawford 10,949 Barisan Sosialis T. Bani 4,400
42.75 / 100
People's Action Party K. M. Byrne 4,207
40.88 / 100
United People's Party Lau Tok Keong(Loses $500 deposit) 1,032
10.03 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party S. A. Hsieh(Loses $500 deposit) 571
5.55 / 100
Workers' Party Goh Tong Liang(Loses $500 deposit) 81
0.79 / 100
Delta 14,037 People's Action Party Chan Choy Siong 5,417
40.53 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Wee Toon Lip 5,354
40.07 / 100
United People's Party Chen Chia Kuang 2,233
16.71 / 100
Independent Wong Kui Yu(Loses $500 deposit) 359
2.69 / 100
Farrer Park 10,189 People's Action Party S. Rajoo 5,365
55.71 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lee Chin Siang 2,619
27.20 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party A. P. Rajah 1,232
12.79 / 100
United People's Party Wee Kia Eng(Loses $500 deposit) 414
4.30 / 100
Geylang East 16,014 People's Action Party Ho Cheng Choon 7,165
47.28 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Phua Soon Lian 5,389
35.56 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Ng Cheng Chwee(Loses $500 deposit) 1,467
9.68 / 100
United People's Party Tan Peng Seah(Loses $500 deposit) 1,134
7.48 / 100
Geylang Serai 15,302 People's Action Party Rahamat bin Kenap 6,722
48.01 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Ahmad b. Hj. Taff 5,019
35.85 / 100
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party M. Taha Suhaimi(Loses $500 deposit) 1,201
8.58 / 100
Independent Darus Shariff(Loses $500 deposit) 1,059
7.56 / 100
Geylang West 15,386 People's Action Party Yong Nyuk Lin 6,288
43.63 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Un Hon Kun 5,670
39.34 / 100
United People's Party Kum Teng Hock(Loses $500 deposit) 1,541
10.69 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Mohd. B. Hj. Yacob(Loses $500 deposit) 914
6.34 / 100
Havelock 15,159 Barisan Sosialis Loh Miaw Gong 6,304
44.05 / 100
People's Action Party Wong Chun Choi 4,157
29.05 / 100
United People's Party Ng Chee Sen 3,209
22.42 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lim Ser Puan(Loses $500 deposit) 641
4.48 / 100
Hong Lim 12,003 United People's Party Ong Eng Guan 5,066
44.47 / 100
People's Action Party Seah Mui Kok 3,789
33.27 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lim Chien Sen 2,344
20.58 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Sam Tai Guan(Loses $500 deposit) 191
1.68 / 100
Jalan Besar 13,764 People's Action Party Chan Chee Seng 6,686
51.87 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Ng Ngeong Yew 5,172
40.12 / 100
United People's Party Yong Wan Kit(Loses $500 deposit) 1,033
8.01 / 100
Jalan Kayu 9,164 Barisan Sosialis Tan Cheng Tong 3,312
38.04 / 100
People's Action Party Teo Hup Teck 2,676
30.73 / 100
United People's Party Lui Boon Phor 1,146
13.16 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party M. P. D. Nair(Loses $500 deposit) 1,057
12.14 / 100
Independent Ong Yu Thoh(Loses $500 deposit) 516
5.93 / 100
Joo Chiat 14,966 People's Action Party Fong Kim Heng 9,300
65.88 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Leong Keng Seng 3,737
26.48 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Seow Peck Leng(Loses $500 deposit) 1,078
7.64 / 100
Jurong 7,611 Barisan Sosialis Chia Thye Poh 3,973
55.85 / 100
People's Action Party Ong Soo Chuan 2,268
31.89 / 100
United People's Party Soh U Loh(Loses $500 deposit) 501
7.04 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Wong Tuck Leong(Loses $500 deposit) 371
5.22 / 100
Kallang 16,974 People's Action Party Buang bin Omar Junid 8,479
52.21 / 100
Barisan Sosialis P. Oorjitham 5,215
32.11 / 100
United People's Party Mohd. Shariff B. D.(Loses $500 deposit) 1,166
7.18 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Tan Hock Lim(Loses $500 deposit) 969
5.97 / 100
Independent Tan Hai Tong(Loses $500 deposit) 411
2.53 / 100
Kampong Glam 10,186 People's Action Party S. Rajaratnam 4,313
44.79 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Tan Jing Quee 4,093
42.50 / 100
United People's Party Harbans Singh 1,224
12.71 / 100
Kampong Kapor 11,672 People's Action Party M. Awang 4,554
41.93 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lim Hock Thiam 4,155
38.27 / 100
United People's Party Nalliah Karuppiah(Loses $500 deposit) 1,143
10.53 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Chia Ban Wei(Loses $500 deposit) 1,006
9.27 / 100
Kampong Kembangan 15,787 People's Action Party Ariff B. Suradi Mohamed 7,127
48.31 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Ali Alwi 3,692
25.03 / 100
Partai Rakyat Saleha Binte Md. Shah 2,674
18.13 / 100
United People's Party Ibrahim B. Jaffar(Loses $500 deposit) 914
6.20 / 100
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party Mohd. Dali B. Muin(Loses $500 deposit) 344
2.33 / 100
Kreta Ayer 13,103 People's Action Party Goh Keng Swee 8,059
65.47 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lau Peter 3,646
29.62 / 100
United People's Party Loke Wan(Loses $500 deposit) 604
4.91 / 100
Moulmein 10,670 People's Action Party Avadai Dhanam Lakshimi-Devan Nair 5,856
58.00 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Tann Wee Tiong 3,051
30.22 / 100
United People's Party Neo Hay Chan(Loses $500 deposit) 575
5.69 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Koh Chiat Lim(Loses $500 deposit) 542
5.37 / 100
Independent Soo Tho Siu Hee(Loses $500 deposit) 73
0.72 / 100
Mountbatten 16,843 People's Action Party Ng Yeow Chong 7,751
48.97 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Fung Yin Ching 5,158
32.59 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lee Kim Chuan(Loses $500 deposit) 1,865
11.78 / 100
Independent Felice Leon-Soh(Loses $500 deposit) 1,053
6.66 / 100
Nee Soon 10,064 Barisan Sosialis Chan Sun Wing 4,914
51.33 / 100
People's Action Party How Kang Yong 3,329
34.77 / 100
United People's Party Goh Soo Ming(Loses $500 deposit) 864
9.02 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Yeo Teo Bok(Loses $500 deposit) 364
3.80 / 100
Independent Lim Siak Guan(Loses $500 deposit) 103
1.08 / 100
Pasir Panjang 6,721 People's Action Party Othman bin Wok 2,879
45.30 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Tay Cheng Kang 1,887
29.69 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Ahmad bin Rahmat 1,351
21.26 / 100
United People's Party Yong Ah Kau(Loses $500 deposit) 238
3.75 / 100
Paya Lebar 13,544 Barisan Sosialis Kow Kee Seng 6,152
47.96 / 100
People's Action Party Tan Kia Gan 5,402
42.11 / 100
United People's Party Yeo Keng Wee(Loses $500 deposit) 858
6.69 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Goh Yeow Dek(Loses $500 deposit) 415
3.24 / 100
Punggol 10,294 People's Action Party Ng Kah Ting 4,721
47.76 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Koh Chit Kiang 2,860
28.93 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Tan Jin Hong 1,320
13.35 / 100
United People's Party Lee Jiak Seck(Loses $500 deposit) 984
9.96 / 100
Queenstown 16,133 People's Action Party Jek Yeun Thong 8,165
52.81 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lee Ek Chong 5,589
36.15 / 100
United People's Party Ng Ho(Loses $500 deposit) 909
5.88 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lee Khee Loong(Loses $500 deposit) 798
5.16 / 100
River Valley 10,532 People's Action Party Lim Cheng Lock 5,597
56.67 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Goh Lam San 2,668
27.01 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Yap Pheng Geck(Loses $500 deposit) 1,156
11.71 / 100
United People's Party Chung Kit Wong(Loses $500 deposit) 455
4.61 / 100
Rochore 11,698 People's Action Party Toh Chin Chye 5,015
45.56 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lee Siew Choh 4,926
44.75 / 100
United People's Party Pan Tiek Tai(Loses $500 deposit) 1,067
9.69 / 100
Sembawang 9,329 People's Action Party Teong Eng Siong 3,745
42.17 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Chen Poh Chang 3,591
40.43 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Appavoo P. 1,197
13.48 / 100
United People's Party Low Seng Wan(Loses $500 deposit) 348
3.92 / 100
Sepoy Lines 10,046 People's Action Party Wee Toon Boon 4,907
52.25 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Ong Chang Sam 3,147
33.51 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Goh Su Chiang(Loses $500 deposit) 793
8.44 / 100
United People's Party Tan Choon Sing(Loses $500 deposit) 545
5.80 / 100
Serangoon Gardens 8,765 People's Action Party R. A. Gonzales 4,456
53.40 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Ng Hui Sim 2,698
32.33 / 100
United People's Party Ng Teo Joo(Loses $500 deposit) 736
8.82 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Choy Kok Wah(Loses $500 deposit) 455
5.45 / 100
Siglap 15,915 People's Action Party Abdul Rahim Ishak 9,342
62.12 / 100
Partai Rakyat Tay Check Yaw 2,618
17.41 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Soo Ban Hoe(Loses $500 deposit) 1,488
9.89 / 100
United People's Party Ong Jin Teck(Loses $500 deposit) 1,365
9.08 / 100
Independent Koh Tee Kin(Loses $500 deposit) 225
1.50 / 100
Southern Islands 5,236 People's Action Party Yaacob bin Mohamed 2,764
55.41 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Ahmad Jabri b. Akib 2,224
44.59 / 100
Stamford 11,628 People's Action Party Fong Sip Chee 5,781
53.27 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Teo Hock Guan 3,719
34.27 / 100
United People's Party Lim Chung Min(Loses $500 deposit) 771
7.10 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lal Behari Singh(Loses $500 deposit) 582
5.36 / 100
Tampines 13,137 Barisan Sosialis Poh Ber Liak 5,976
48.33 / 100
People's Action Party Goh Chew Chua 3,601
29.13 / 100
United People's Party Liam Tian Seng 2,130
17.23 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Lim Jew Kan(Loses $500 deposit) 656
5.31 / 100
Tanglin 9,239 People's Action Party Edmund W. Barker 4,424
51.07 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Tan Cheow Hock 1,997
23.06 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Thio Chan Bee 1,738
20.07 / 100
United People's Party Eng Chau Sam(Loses $500 deposit) 336
3.88 / 100
Independent Ariffin b. Md Said(Loses $500 deposit) 166
1.92 / 100
Tanjong Pagar 11,395 People's Action Party Lee Kuan Yew 6,317
58.93 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Ong Hock Siang 3,537
32.99 / 100
United People's Party Lim Peng Kang(Loses $500 deposit) 473
4.41 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Chng Boon Eng(Loses $500 deposit) 393
3.67 / 100
Telok Ayer 13,219 People's Action Party Ong Pang Boon 5,390
44.01 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Lam Chit Lee 4,987
40.72 / 100
United People's Party Goh Hong Keng(Loses $500 deposit) 1,484
12.12 / 100
Independent Wang Chung Kwang(Loses $500 deposit) 385
3.15 / 100
Telok Blangah 13,263 People's Action Party Bernard Rodrigues 4,949
39.82 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Jukri b. Parjo 4,327
34.82 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Abdul Rahman 2,627
21.14 / 100
United People's Party Tan Swee Huat(Loses $500 deposit) 525
4.22 / 100
Thomson 11,336 Barisan Sosialis Koo Young 5,292
49.17 / 100
People's Action Party Leo Keng Fong 4,248
39.47 / 100
United People's Party Loo Ka Thiam(Loses $500 deposit) 1,223
11.36 / 100
Tiong Bahru 12,534 People's Action Party Lee Teck Him 5,731
48.15 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Soon Dit Woo 3,798
31.91 / 100
United People's Party Ng Teng Kian(Loses $500 deposit) 1,088
9.14 / 100
Independent William Tan(Loses $500 deposit) 777
6.53 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Tan Kok Siong(Loses $500 deposit) 508
4.27 / 100
Toa Payoh 13,394 Barisan Sosialis Wong Soon Fong 6,083
48.20 / 100
People's Action Party Yip Sai Weng 4,276
33.88 / 100
United People's Party Goh Nee Kim(Loses $500 deposit) 1,501
11.89 / 100
United Democratic Party Tan Chor Yong(Loses $500 deposit) 760
6.03 / 100
Ulu Pandan 11,866 People's Action Party Chow Chiok Hock 5,000
44.86 / 100
Partai Rakyat Johari bin Sonto 2,967
26.62 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Anang b. H. A. Manan 1,729
15.51 / 100
United People's Party Ler Chin Tee 1,450
13.01 / 100
Upper Serangoon 12,433 People's Action Party Sia Kah Hui 6,650
56.56 / 100
Barisan Sosialis Chia Yang Loong 3,547
30.17 / 100
United People's Party Phua Gek Boon(Loses $500 deposit) 595
5.06 / 100
Independent Lim Choon Mong(Loses $500 deposit) 573
4.87 / 100
Singapore Alliance Party Wu Moh Chye(Loses $500 deposit) 393
3.34 / 100
Source: ELD

Aftermath

Many cited factors that led to the PAP victory include:[2]

  • The PAP's eleventh hour warning to voters that Malaysia would send troops into Singapore and invoke emergency powers in place of the incoming the Barisan government;
  • A strong support among voters for Singapore's merger with Malaya, which was perceived to be jeopardised should Barisan win the election due to its opposition to merger;
  • English-educated middle classes fearful of communism tactically voting for PAP following the split of the leftists away from the party.
  • Barisan's support for Indonesia and the Communist Party of Indonesia's oppositions to the formation of Malaysia, especially when Indonesia had declared Konfrontasi and begun provocative military manoeuvres in Borneo in the lead up to the election;
  • Policies introduced by the government such as building of 26,000 Housing and Development Board flats, reduction in unemployment rate and investment in public services from 1959 to 1963.

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 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

References
  1. Lau, Albert (1998). A Moment of Anguish: Singapore in Malaysia and the Politics of Disengagement. Singapore: Times Academic Press. ISBN 981-210-1349.
  2. Sonny Yap; Richard Lim; Leong Weng Kam (2010). Men in White: The Untold Story of Singapore's Ruling Political Party. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings.
  3. "LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1963". Singapore Elections. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  4. "PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT" (PDF). Dewan Rakyat. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
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