PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION 1991
This was Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's maiden helmsmanship of PAP in an election after Lee Kuan Yew stepped down as PM and PAP's secretary-general in 1990. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee published its report on 8 August 1991, after placing it in PM's Office on 29 July 1991. A week later, PM Goh called for a snap election to court a fresh mandate, merely three years after the last GE, setting the record of Parliament's shortest term. Instead, it lost an unprecedented four seats - the biggest number since the 1963 GE - and its share of votes fell for the third consecutive time. SDP added two more spoils to the seat retained successfully by leader Chiam See Tong, becoming the main opposition party in Parliament, and eight out of nine SDP candidates came in among the top ten opposition candidates. WP made its second in-road into the legislature with the victory of organising secretary Low Thia Khiang, who would years later become WP secretary-general and leader. At a press conference, PM Goh glumly attributed the loss to his "open and consultative style of government" and pledged to re-evaluate his style. GRCs grew from three to four seats. Since the introduction of the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament scheme in 1984, this was the only occasion no NCMP seats were offered as the four opposition seats exceeded the minimum of three NCMP seats alloted. Therefore, the "deja vu" narrow defeat of WP's Eunos GRC team, anchored by Dr Lee Siew Choh again, did not see to Dr Lee's return as NCMP. This turned out to be his final electoral contest and legislature presence, as he resigned from WP and retired from politics in 1993. The maximum of six Nominated MPs were appointed for this Parliament term, up from two NMPs previously. 7th Parliament dissolution: 14 August 1991 [Wed] Eligible voters: 1,692,384 Election deposit: $6,000 (+$2,000)
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