1964 Malaysian general election

A general election was held on Saturday, 25 April 1964 for members of the 2nd Parliament of Malaysia. Voting took place in 104 out of 159 parliamentary constituencies of Malaysia, each electing one Member of Parliament to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant house of Parliament.[1] State elections also took place in 282 state constituencies in 11 (out of 14, except Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore) states of Malaysia on the same day, each electing one Member of the Legislative Assembly to the Dewan Undangan Negeri.

1964 Malaysian general election

25 April 1964
104 (of the 159) seats to the Dewan Rakyat 53 seats needed for a majority
Registered	2,681,895
Turnout	2,146,608 (78.9%)
First party Second party Third party   PAS Leader Tunku Abdul Rahman Tan Chee Khoon Burhanuddin al-Helmy Party Alliance Socialist Front PAS Leader since 23 August 1951 21 March 1964 1956 Leader's seat Kuala Kedah Batu No seat Last election 74 seats, 51.8% 8 seats, 12.9% 13 seats, 21.3% Seats won 89 2 9 Seat change 15 6 4 Popular vote 1,204,340 330,898 301,187 Percentage 58.5% 16.1% 14.6% Swing 6.7% 3.2% 6.7%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   UDP PPP Leader Lim Chong Eu D. R. Seenivasagam Lee Kuan Yew Party United Democratic Party People's Progressive Party PAP Leader since 1962 10 April 1953 21 November 1954 Leader's seat Tanjong Ipoh No seat Last election New Party 4 seats, 6.3% New Party Seats won 1 2 1 Seat change 2 Popular vote 88,223 69,898 42,130 Percentage 4.3% 3.4% 2.0%
Prime Minister before election Tunku Abdul Rahman Alliance Prime Minister-designate Tunku Abdul Rahman Alliance

The result was a victory for the Alliance Party, which won 89 of the 104 seats. Voter turnout was 78.9%. The result also contributed towards the eventual expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia. The Singaporean-based People's Action Party decided to run on the mainland, and although it attracted large crowds at its rallies, it won only one seat – that by Devan Nair, who represented the Bungsar constituency (now part of Seputeh and Lembah Pantai constituencies). It is thought by some historians that Finance Minister and MCA President Tan Siew Sin's appeal to the Chinese to avoid challenging the Malay special rights and risk merger with Indonesia helped the MCA retain its status as the "undisputed leader of the Chinese in the Malayan peninsula". Nevertheless, UMNO leaders were furious with the PAP.

It was the first parliamentary general election held after the formation of Malaysia in 1963. State elections were not held in Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. Transitional provisions allowed the state legislatures of the three states to choose their parliamentary representatives until the next election. The three states had been allocated a total of 55 seats in the Malaysian Parliament: 15 seats for Singapore, 16 seats for Sabah and 24 seats for Sarawak. Together, the three states held 34% out the 159 seats in the parliament. This was intended to act as a check to prevent parliament from passing constitutional amendments (which require a two-thirds majority) without the agreement of representatives from the three new states. After Singapore left Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak were only left with 25% of the seats, as a consequence Sabah and Sarawak were not able to stop the parliament from approving laws that would encroach on the special rights granted to Sabah and Sarawak upon merger to form Malaysia.

Two Alliance candidates were returned unopposed.

Results

Dewan Rakyat

 Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results

Party				Vote		Seats
				Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1]		Alliance	1,204,340	58.53	89	85.58	+15
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO		38.1	59	56.73	+7
		Malaysian Chinese Association	MCA		18.7	27	25.96	+8
		Malaysian Indian Congress	MIC		1.6	3	2.88	0
	Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front[lower-alpha 2]		SF	330,898	16.08	2	1.92	-6
		Labour Party of Malaya	Lab			2	1.92	-4
		Parti Ra'ayat	Ra'ayat			0	0.00	-2
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	301,187	14.64	9	8.65	-4
	United Democratic Party		UDP	88,223	4.29	1	0.96	New
	People's Progressive Party		PPP	69,898	3.40	2	1.92	-2
	People's Action Party		PAP	42,130	2.05	1	0.96	New
	National Party		Negara	7,319	0.36	0	0.00	-1
	Independents		IND	13,509	0.66	0	0.00	-3
Valid votes				2,057,504
Invalid/blank votes				89,104
Total (turnout: 78.9%)				2,146,608	100.00	104	100.00	0
Did not vote				535,287
Registered voters				2,681,895
Source: Nohlen et al.

1. Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.
2. Contested using kepala lembu, cangkul, pen, rantai election symbol on the ballot papers.

Results by state

Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results by state

Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perlis Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 2 23,007 63.25 2 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 2 23,007 63.25 2 100.00 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 2 13,369 36.75 0 0.00 0 Valid votes 36,376 Invalid/blank votes 1,564 Total votes (voter turnout: 81.61%) 37,940 100.00 2 100.00 0 Did not vote 8,551 Registered voters 46,491 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Perlis's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kedah Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 12 168,995 68.56 12 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 10 139,169 56.46 10 83.33 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 29,826 12.10 2 16.67 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 12 61,861 25.10 0 0.00 0 Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front[lower-alpha 2] SF 4 11,794 4.78 0 0.00 0 Labour Party of Malaya Lab 3 10,012 4.06 0 0.00 0 Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 1 1,782 0.72 0 0.00 0 United Democratic Party UDP 2 3,849 1.56 0 0.00 New Valid votes 246,499 Invalid/blank votes 10,973 Total votes (voter turnout: 76.43%) 257,472 100.00 12 100.00 0 Did not vote 79,386 Registered voters 336,858 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Kedah's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers. Contested using kepala lembu, cangkul, pen, rantai election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kelantan Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 10 118,770 56.86 8 80.00 -1 Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 10 89,710 42.95 2 20.00 +1 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 10 89,710 42.95 2 20.00 +1 Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front[lower-alpha 2] SF 1 414 0.20 0 0.00 New Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 1 414 0.20 0 0.00 New Valid votes 208,894 Invalid/blank votes 8,875 Total votes (voter turnout: 80.14%) 217,769 100.00 10 100.00 0 Did not vote 53,962 Registered voters 271,731 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Kelantan's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers. Contested using kepala lembu, cangkul, pen, rantai election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Trengganu Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 6 60,792 56.52 5 83.33 +4 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 6 60,792 56.52 5 83.33 +4 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 6 34,522 32.10 1 16.67 -3 National Party Negara 4 7,319 6.81 0 0.00 -1 Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front[lower-alpha 2] SF 3 4,919 4.57 0 0.00 0 Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 3 4,919 4.57 0 0.00 0 Valid votes 107,552 Invalid/blank votes 4,786 Total votes (voter turnout: 77.36%) 112,338 100.00 6 100.00 0 Did not vote 32,879 Registered voters 145,217 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Trengganu's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers. Contested using kepala lembu, cangkul, pen, rantai election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Penang Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 8 97,204 47.27 6 75.00 +1 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 4 57,615 28.02 4 50.00 +1 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 4 39,589 19.25 2 25.00 0 Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front[lower-alpha 2] SF 8 64,986 31.60 1 12.50 -2 Labour Party of Malaya Lab 5 42,574 20.70 1 12.50 -2 Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 3 22,412 10.90 0 0.00 0 United Democratic Party UDP 6 37,151 18.07 1 12.50 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 3 5,527 2.69 0 0.00 0 People's Action Party PAP 1 778 0.38 0 0.00 New Valid votes 205,646 Invalid/blank votes 5,902 Total votes (voter turnout: %) 211,548 100.00 8 100.00 0 Did not vote 41,907 Registered voters 253,455 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Penang's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers. Contested using kepala lembu, cangkul, pen, rantai election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perak Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 20 222,141 55.57 18 90.00 +3 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 9 99,122 24.79 9 45.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 10 113,164 28.31 8 40.00 +3 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 9,855 2.47 1 5.00 0 United Democratic Party UDP 9 26,094 6.53 1 0.96 New People's Progressive Party PPP 7 66,330 16.59 2 10.00 -2 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 9 41,941 10.49 0 0.00 0 Independents IND 6 10,931 2.73 0 0.00 -1 Valid votes 399,776 Invalid/blank votes 17,344 Total votes (voter turnout: 79.53%) 417,120 100.00 20 100.00 0 Did not vote 107,367 Registered voters 524,487 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above) Perak's population Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Pahang Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 6 6 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 5 5 83.33 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 1 1 16.67 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 6 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Pahang's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Selangor Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 14 12 85.71 +3 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 6 42.86 +1 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 5 35.71 +2 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 7.14 0 Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front[lower-alpha 2] SF 1 7.14 -4 Labour Party of Malaya Lab 1 7.14 -2 Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 0 0.00 -2 People's Action Party PAP 1 7.14 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 14 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Selangor's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers. Contested using kepala lembu, cangkul, pen, rantai election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Negri Sembilan Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 6 6 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 3 3 50.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 2 33.33 0 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 1 16.67 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 6 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Negri Sembilan's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Malacca Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 4 4 100.00 +1 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 2 2 50.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 2 50.00 +1 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 4 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Malacca's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 25 April 1964 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Johore Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 16 16 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 11 11 68.75 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 5 5 31.25 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 16 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Johore's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

State Assemblies

Main article: 1964 Malaysian state elections

References

1. Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann (15 November 2001). Elections in Asia and the Pacific : A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific. OUP Oxford. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-19-924959-6.