STATE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1963

This GE was the only one held with Singapore's status being a state of Malaysia, intentionally held after merger with the Peninsular, remembered in history as PAP's most hard-fought GE ever. Holding just 39 seats after two by-election defeats and two defections to UPP, PAP expelled 13 of their Assembly Members in an open political battle between two factions and was left hanging onto a slim one-seat majority of 26 to 25. The group formed a new party, BS, which PAP alleged was communist-backed. A month prior to the GE, PAP's Mdm Ho Puay Choo joined BS, bringing PAP 25 to 26 against opposition, but UPP and ex-PAP AM S. V. Lingam switched back and PAP was back with its one-seat majority. Five days later, PAP Minister Ahmad bin Ibrahim passed away leaving a 25 to 25 stand-off in the house. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew avoided holding a BE, choosing instead to call for this GE to court a fresh mandate or if failing to do so, the Malaysian Federal authorities will be left to handle of a pro-communist government. Fielding a full slate, PAP faced strong challenges from BS and its PR partner, Ong Eng Guan's UPP and SA, a formalised umbrella of SPA and the UMNO-MCA-MIC alliance, backed by the ruling Alliance Party Malaysia coalition, but without leader and former Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock in the running. All three also had close to a full slate but nevertheless, PAP managed to eke out an election victory. In the biggest election "slaughter" ever, all except in three constituencies saw a total of 92 candidates losing their deposits.

Nomination day: 12 September 1963 [Thu]
Polling day: 21 September 1963 [Sat]
Assembly commencement: 22 October 1963 [Tue]

Total voters: 617,650
Total voter turnout: 587,433 (95.1%)

Election deposit: $500