GRCs were introduced in this GE to ensure ethnic minority representation in Parliament, starting with three joint constituencies. This was the last time Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew led the PAP in a GE and another two stalwarts, former Deputy PM Dr Toh Chin Chye and Senior Minister S. Rajaratnam, retired as the PAP's renewal process continued. Two seats were vacated in 1986 - Anson of WP Member of Parliament and chief J. B. Jeyaretnam and Geylang West of PAP MP Teh Cheang Wan. The former was convicted and disqualified as MP for improper party accounts and the latter committed suicide while on investigations for corruption but no by-election was held. WP absorbed BS and SUF to become the largest opposition party and also allied with PKMS as one common unit. Former solicitor-general and Law Society president, Francis Seow, standing under the WP ticket in Eunos GRC with veteran politician Dr Lee Siew Choh, came under fire from the PAP leadership for his alleged dubious financial circumstances. Nevertheless, the strong WP team caught PAP's attention and Dr Tay Eng Soon, a popular PAP stalwart, was switched to face the team. In the end, PAP won the GRC by an extremely narrow margin. With SDP's sole victory, two Non-Constituency MP seats were offered to Dr Lee and Seow. The latter fled the country to avoid arrest and was disqualified from the post. Dr Lee, on the other hand, took up the offer and became Singapore's first NCMP. This also marked his return to Parliament after 25 years since his last stint as a PAP and BS legislator. Once again, there was a drastic increase of the election deposit. In November 1990, two years after the GE, the Nominated MP scheme was introduced to bring non-partisan voices into the legislature. Although the law allowed up to six NMPs, two were appointed for a start and sat only for a year before the Parliament term ended.
6th Parliament dissolution: 17 August 1988 [Wed]
Nomination day: 24 August 1988 [Wed]
Polling day: 3 September 1988 [Sat]
7th Parliament convention: 9 January 1989 [Mon]
Eligible voters: 1,669,013
Voters in walkover constituencies: 219,175 (13.1%)
Total voters: 1,449,838 (86.9%)
Total voter turnout: 1,373,064 (94.7%)
Election deposit: $4,000 (+166.7%)
 |
 |
 |
 |