LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1959

This was the first GE for a fully-elected house in self-governing Singapore after negotiations between the British and Singapore lawmakers finally saw settlement. Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock, who succeeded David Marshall after the latter resigned two years ago, used extreme measures to quell the communists, causing the ground to turn against him. His government was also ridden with corruption. By the time LF's term was up, its credibility was in tatters. To face the polls with a fresh new image, Lim abandoned LF with a large group to form SPA. With only four candidates in the previous GE, PAP surprised his opponents and political observers by fielding candidates in all seats. The UMNO-MCA alliance was joined by MIC. For the first time, voting was compulsory. The only GE that saw up to seven-corner contests, PAP won a landslide victory and opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore while Lim, who was to run in his last election, moved over to head the opposition benches.

Nomination day: 25 April 1959 [Sat]
Polling day: 30 May 1959 [Sat]
Assembly commencement: 1 July 1959 [Wed]

Total voters: 586,098
Total voter turnout: 527,919 (92.9%)

Election deposit: $500