The reason for Singapore's first by-election, held shortly after a GE earlier in the same year, was due to the death of independent Legislative Councillor S. C. Goho, who passed away in Calcutta. PP nominated a previously unsuccessful independent candidate in the GE, who was contested by two other new independents, one of them who turned up in a last-minute surprise.

Nomination day: 3 September 1948 [Fri]
Polling day: 16 October 1948 [Sat]

Registered voters: 4,279
Total voter turnout: 3,121 (72.9%)

Election deposit: $500

RESULTS

Rural West

Total seats = 1