Английская Википедия:1955 Singaporean general election
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox electionШаблон:Politics of Singapore
General elections were held in Singapore on 2 April 1955 to elect members to the 25 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly. Nomination day was on 28 February 1955.
Background
Following the promulgation of the Rendel Constitution, the 1955 elections were the first occasion on which a majority of the seats were to be elected rather than be appointed by the colonial authorities. The new constitution was written after recommendations by a committee to grant local citizens more autonomy, headed by George Rendel, were passed.
According to the new Constitution, locals would share executive power with the colonial authorities and there would be a Chief Minister among elected legislators. The number of elected seats was increased to 25, with the British government appointing the remaining seven members. For the first time, political parties were permitted to adopt a standard party symbol for all their candidates and independents to select theirs instead of balloting for them.[1]
The Governor of Singapore and Colonial Secretary posts were replaced by a Chief Secretary, who inherited the power to appoint four nominated Assembly Members. Also scrapped were the seats of the Solicitor-General, two directors, two ex officios, the three commercial organisations and the City Council representative.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 5 February | Dissolution of the Legislative Council |
| 28 February | Nomination Day |
| 2 April | Polling day |
| 6 April | Inauguration of David Marshall as Chief Minister |
| 7 April | Formation of Council of Ministers |
| 22 April | Opening of 1st Legislative Assembly |
Changes in electoral boundaries
| Constituency | Divisions formed from |
|---|---|
| Bukit Panjang | Bukit Timah & Seletar |
| Cairnhill | Balestier, Rochore & Tanglin |
| Farrer Park | Balestier |
| Geylang | Katong |
| Havelock | City, Keppel & Tanglin |
| Kampong Kapor | Rochore |
| Pasir Panjang | Bukit Timah & Keppel |
| Paya Lebar | Changi & Katong |
| Punggol–Tampines | Changi |
| Queenstown | Bukit Timah, Keppel & Tanglin |
| Sembawang | Bukit Timah & Seletar |
| Serangoon | Balestier, Changi & Seletar |
| Southern Islands | Bukit Timah & Keppel |
| Stamford | City & Rochore |
| Tanjong Pagar | City & Keppel |
| Telok Ayer | City |
| Tiong Bahru | Keppel |
| Ulu Bedok | Changi |
| Whampoa | Balestier |
Results
Much to the surprise for British, who had anticipated a Progressive victory and its leader, Tan Chye Cheng, to emerge as Chief Minister, it was the Labour Front that garnered the most seats and its chairman, David Marshall, thus became Singapore's first Chief Minister. Both losing and winning parties were shocked by the results.[1] Labour Front formed a government with support of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA), UMNO and the Malay Union.
In its first elections, the newly formed People's Action Party, led by lawyer and former Progressive Party election agent Lee Kuan Yew, chose to field only a handful of candidates to protest against the Rendel Constitution. As independent member Ahmad Ibrahim joined PAP following the election, PAP had 4 members in the Assembly and thus Lee became the new Leader of the Opposition.[2]
The election saw the electorate multiply 6 folds. Voter turnout barely increased by 0.61% to 52.66%. 6 of the 25 constituencies saw voter turnout less than 50%. The lowest was that of Geylang which saw only 40.84% turning up to vote. This surpassed the City Constituency's 43.93% turnout in 1951 and with compulsory voting introduced in the next 1959 General Election, this was the lowest turnout in a constituency in the non-compulsory voting period (1948-1959). The constituency with the highest voter turnout was that of Southern Islands at 69.79%. The election's best performing candidate was Labour Front candidate and Future Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock who polled 86.48% of the votes. The worst performing candidate was Independent candidate Chua Kim Watt who polled just 0.55% of the votes in Farrer Park. Labour Front leader and Chief Ministerial candidate David Saul Marshall won his Cairnhill constituency with 47.58% of the votes. Future Prime Minister of Singapore and PAP leader Lee Kuan Yew won his Tanjong Pagar constituency with 78.33% over his two rival candidates making it the second best performance after Lim Yew Hock. Ironically, PP leader Tan Chye Cheng was defeated in Cairnhill by David Marshall and polled just 36.42%. 10 candidates lost their $500 election deposits.
Future Chief Minister of Singapore Lim Yew Hock won with the biggest margin of 78.58% while Malay Union candidate Mohamed Sidik bin Abdul Hamid won with the narrowest margin of just 1.15%.
Out of the 7 non-elected seats, 3 were ex-officio members namely: Sir William Goode (the Chief Secretary of Singapore), Sir John Edward Davies (the Attorney-General of Singapore) and Thomas Mure Hart, the Finance Secretary of Singapore.
4 members were nominated out of which 2 were from the Labour Front and 2 Independents. This gave the LF 12 seats. The Labour Front formed a Coalition Government with UMNO and MCA each having 1 seat. The LF-UMNO-MCA Coalition had 14 seats and with British support (3 ex-officio members) had 17 seats just enough for a majority in the 32-seat Assembly. On 6 April 1955, David Marshall was sworn in as the First Chief Minister of Singapore making him also the First Head of Government in the country.
As of 2021, this election remains the only election to have produced a minority government and a hung legislature. It also remains the only election to have produced a Non-PAP Government in the history of Singapore.
By constituency
| Constituency | Electorate | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bukit Panjang | 8,012 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Goh Tong Liang | 3,097 | 72.21 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Lim Wee Toh | 1,192 | 27.79 | ||
| Bukit Timah | 9,173 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | People's Action Party | Lim Chin Siong | 3,259 | 52.45 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Tan Wah Meng | 1,308 | 21.05 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | A. N. Mitra | 924 | 14.88 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | S. F. Ho | 722 | 11.62 | ||
| Cairnhill | 13,528 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | David Marshall | 3,305 | 47.58 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Tan Chye Cheng | 2,530 | 36.42 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Tan Khiang Khoo | 1,111 | 16.00 | ||
| Changi | 11,239 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Lim Cher Kheng | 2,624 | 45.08 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | S. G. Mohamed Ghows | 1,699 | 29.19 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Wong Sau Sheung | 1,498 | 25.73 | ||
| Farrer Park | 12,242 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Anthony Rebeiro Lazarous | 2,585 | 38.52 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | People's Action Party | Devan Nair | 2,219 | 33.07 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Eric Wee Sian Beng | 1,784 | 26.59 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | C. T. B. Unnithan | 85 | 1.27 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Chua Kim Watt | 37 | 0.55 | ||
| Geylang | 16,604 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Mak Pak Shee | 2,756 | 41.17 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Goh Hood Kiat | 1,386 | 20.71 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Party | Lee Yong Min | 1,325 | 19.80 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Lam Joon Chong | 1,226 | 18.32 | ||
| Havelock | 12,835 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Lim Yew Hock | 5,744 | 86.48 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | C. S. Soh | 525 | 7.90 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Chua Bock Kwee | 373 | 5.62 | ||
| Kampong Kapor | 13,815 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Seah Peng Chuan | 3,253 | 45.60 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Caralapati Raghaviah Dasaratha Raj | 2,155 | 30.21 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Wong Shian Yein | 1,283 | 17.98 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Lim Kian Lee | 443 | 6.21 | ||
| Katong | 22,196 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Armand Joseph Braga | 4,680 | 45.66 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | John Laycock | 2,965 | 28.93 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Chan Wah Chip | 2,605 | 25.41 | ||
| Pasir Panjang | 13,812 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color| | Malayan Chinese Association | Wong Foo Nam | 3,546 | 45.17 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | K. Mohd S. Hamid | 2,370 | 30.19 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | P. V. Krishnan | 1,306 | 16.63 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Leong Foon Chew | 629 | 8.01 | ||
| Paya Lebar | 12,827 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Lim Koon Teck | 3,330 | 52.07 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Tan Eng Joo | 3,065 | 47.93 | ||
| Punggol–Tampines | 6,628 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | People's Action Party | Goh Chew Chua | 2,127 | 55.38 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Anthony Goh | 918 | 23.90 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | H. A. De Silva | 796 | 20.72 | ||
| Queenstown | 7,015 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Lee Choon Eng | 2,792 | 67.28 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Murray Bruce Brash | 736 | 17.73 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Elizabeth Choy | 622 | 14.99 | ||
| Rochore | 12,073 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Tan Theng Chiang | 2,929 | 46.25 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Ong Eng Lian | 1,897 | 29.95 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Soh Ghee Soon | 1,507 | 23.80 | ||
| Seletar | 9,402 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Madai Puthan Damodaran Nair | 1,771 | 31.83 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Lek Poh Song | 1,632 | 29.33 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Tan Leong Teck | 1,252 | 22.50 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Khew Pee Ging | 909 | 16.34 | ||
| Sembawang | 10,675 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Ahmad Ibrahim | 4,281 | 63.24 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Lee Kim Kee | 2,488 | 36.76 | ||
| Serangoon | 8,402 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Lim Choon Mong | 2,172 | 45.83 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Lim Chye Seng | 1,412 | 29.80 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color| | Malayan Chinese Association | Lim Siew Ek | 1,155 | 24.37 | ||
| Southern Islands | 3,548 | Malay Union | Mohamed Sidik bin Abdul Hamid | 1,233 | 50.57 | |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Hollupatherage James Caldera Kulasingha | 1,205 | 49.43 | ||
| Stamford | 13,207 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Jumabhoy Mohamed Jumabhoy | 2,691 | 43.08 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | T. A. Simon | 1,281 | 20.51 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Nazir Ahmad Mallal | 1,153 | 18.46 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Ng Sen Choy | 1,121 | 17.95 | ||
| Tanglin | 16,177 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | John Anthony Moore Ede | 3,214 | 45.67 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Lim Yong Bock | 2,501 | 35.54 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Lim Seow Chuan | 1,322 | 18.79 | ||
| Tanjong Pagar | 13,430 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | People's Action Party | Lee Kuan Yew | 6,029 | 78.33 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Peter Lim Seck Tiong | 908 | 11.80 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Lam Thian | 760 | 9.87 | ||
| Telok Ayer | 11,547 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Independent | Rajabali Jumabhoy | 1,945 | 39.90 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Sng Siak Hwee | 1,453 | 30.30 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Tan Ewe Chee | 1,660 | 29.80 | ||
| Tiong Bahru | 12,664 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | William Tan Ah Lek | 2,264 | 38.60 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Foo Few Ting | 2,100 | 35.80 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color| | Malayan Chinese Association | Teo Seng Bee | 1,502 | 25.60 | ||
| Ulu Bedok | 16,903 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | United Malays National Organisation | Abdul Hamid Jumat | 5,721 | 61.04 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Toh Seng Sit | 2,999 | 32.00 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Abdul Hamid bin Rahmat | 652 | 6.96 | ||
| Whampoa | 12,345 | bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Labour Front | Chew Swee Kee | 2,961 | 45.88 |
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Progressive Party | Thio Chan Bee | 2,565 | 39.75 | ||
| bgcolor=Шаблон:Party color | | Democratic Party | Lee Kok Liang | 927 | 14.37 | ||
| Source: ELD, Singapore Elections | ||||||
See also
References
- Sr, Pugalenthi (1996) Elections in Singapore VJ Times International Pte Ltd, Singapore Шаблон:ISBN
External links
- General Elections 1955 Шаблон:Webarchive Singapore Elections
- Results of 1955 election in Singapore
