1963 Singaporean general election

Elections to the 3rd Legislative Assembly of Singapore

1963 Singaporean general election

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| <- 1959 | 21 September 1963 | 1968 ->

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<- outgoing members

elected members ->

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All 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly
26 seats needed for a majority
Registered| 617,750
Turnout| 95.11% ( 5.04pp)
|  | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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|  |  |
Leader  | Lee Kuan Yew | Lee Siew Choh | Ong Eng Guan
Party  | PAP | BS | UPP
Last election  | 54.08%, 43 seats  | –  | –
Seats won  | 37 | 13  | 1
Seat change  |  6  | New | New
Popular vote  | 272,924 | 193,301  | 48,785
Percentage  | 46.93% | 33.24%  | 8.39%
Swing  |  7.15pp  | New | New

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Results by constituency

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| Prime Minister before election

Lee Kuan Yew
PAP

| Prime Minister after election

Lee Kuan Yew
PAP

|

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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[citation needed] 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.

The elections would be the last until 2015 in which all seats were contested. Further, the 1963 election would also be the last time (until 2020) where the ruling PAP would lose the popular vote in areas contested by the opposition and the only election in Singapore's history where the PAP would poll less than 50% of the nationwide popular vote.

With PAP winning a near three-quarters majority with just under 47% of the national vote, this is the lowest ever super-majority government formed to date in Singapore's history.

## Background[edit]

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[edit]

3 September | Dissolution of 2nd Legislative Assembly

|

12 September | Nomination Day
21 September | Polling day
22 October | Opening of 3rd Legislative Assembly

## Campaign[edit]

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[edit]

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.

Party| Votes| %| Seats| +/–
| People's Action Party| 272,924| 46.93| 37| –6
| Barisan Sosialis| 193,301| 33.24| 13| New
| Singapore Alliance| 48,967| 8.42| 0| –3
| United People's Party| 48,785| 8.39| 1| New
| Partai Rakyat| 8,259| 1.42| 0| 0
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 1,545| 0.27| 0| 0
| United Democratic Party| 760| 0.13| 0| New
| Workers' Party| 286| 0.05| 0| 0
| Independents| 6,788| 1.17| 0| –1
Total| 581,615| 100.00| 51| 0
Valid votes| 581,615| 99.01|
Invalid/blank votes| 5,818| 0.99|
Total votes| 587,433| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 617,450| 95.14|
Source: Singapore Elections

### By constituency[edit]

Constituency | Electorate | Party | Candidate | Votes | %

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

## Aftermath[edit]

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 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 opposition 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[edit]

* List of Singaporean electoral divisions (1963–68)

## References[edit]

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. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
4. ^ "PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT" (PDF). Dewan Rakyat. Retrieved 19 August 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Elections and referendums in Singapore

General elections|

* 1948
* 1951
* 1955
* 1959
* 1963
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1991
* 1997
* 2001
* 2006
* 2011
* 2015
* 2020
* Next

By-elections|

* 1948
* 1952
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1970
* 1977
* 1979
* 1981
* 1992
* 2012
* 2013
* 2016

Presidential elections|

* 1993
* 1999‡
* 2005‡
* 2011
* 2017‡
* 2023

Local elections|

* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1949 (Apr)
* 1949 (Dec)
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1957
* 1958

Referendums|

* 1962

‡ uncontested

* v
* t
* e

State elections in Malaysia

Overall results|

* 1983
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1990
* 1991
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1999
* 2001
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Johor|

* 1954
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2022

Kedah|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2023

Kelantan|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2023

Malacca|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2021

Negeri Sembilan|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2023

Pahang|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2022

Penang|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2023

Perak|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2022

Perlis|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2022

Sabah|

* 1964 (indirect)
* 1967
* 1971
* 1976
* 1981
* 1985
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2020

Sarawak|

* 1959 (indirect)
* 1963 (indirect)
* 1969
* 1974
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1996
* 2001
* 2006
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021

Selangor|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2023

Terengganu|

* 1954
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2023

Singapore|

* 1963

* v
* t
* e

Elections in Malaysia

Federal|

* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1969
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1995
* 1999
* 2004
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018
* 2022
* Next

State|

* 1954
* 1955
* 1959 (Malaya)
* 1959 (Sarawak)
* 1963
* 1964
* 1967
* 1969
* 1971
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1979
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1990
* 1991
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1999
* 2001
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Local|

* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965

* See also: Federal by-elections
* State by-elections
* Elections in Johor
* Kedah
* Kelantan
* Kuala Lumpur
* Labuan
* Malacca
* Negeri Sembilan
* Pahang
* Penang
* Perak
* Perlis
* Putrajaya
* Sabah
* Sarawak
* Selangor
* Terengganu

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