This first and only NR held in Singapore to date was to decide on the island's position within the Federation of Malaysia after merger with it. The Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak would also join the Federation. Singapore's major political parties campaigned for different alternatives. PAP stood for Alternative A, where Singapore would retain powers over certain areas. SPA, going pro-UMNO Malaysia, represented Alternative C, where Singapore's status would be no different from other states. BS called upon voters to cast blank votes and reject merger, as they did not agree to the inclusion of the Borneo territories. However, the PAP government had earlier ruled that blank votes would be counted as Alternative A. Despite so, Alternative A received a strong endorsement on itself, which symbolised a victory for the PAP government.

Polling day: 1 September 1962 [Sat]

Total voters: 624,000
Total voter turnout: 561,559 (90.0%)

RESULTS
ALTERNATIVE	CONDITIONS
A	"I support merger giving Singapore autonomy in labour, education and other agreed matters as set out in Command Paper No. 33 of 1961, with Singapore citizens automatically becoming citizens of Malaysia."
397,626 (71.1%)
B	"I support complete and unconditional merger for Singapore as a state on an equal basis with the other eleven states in accordance with the Constitutional documents of the Federation of Malaya."
9,422 (1.7%)
C	"I support Singapore entering Malaysia on terms no less favourable than those given to the Borneo territories."
7,911 (1.4%)
Blank votes	None of the above (reject merger)
144,077 (25.8%)

ALTERNATIVE A wins by 253,549 (45.3%) votes

Rejected votes: 2,523 (0.4%)