Singaporean by-election, 1966
Encyclopedia
Background
There were 3 By-elections held within 1966, with the first triggered just 4 months after separation from Malaysia on 8 December 1965. Lim Huan Boon from Barisan SosialisBarisan Sosialis
The Barisan Sosialis is a former Singaporean left-wing political party formed in 1961, by left-wing members of the People's Action Party and led by Dr Lee Siew Choh and Lim Chin Siong.-Formation:...
(BS), who started the trigger of the BS boycott of Parliament because they claimed that Singapore's independence was "phony" on the grounds that the separation matter was not discussed in the legislature and announced that all of its MPs would resign their seats and take their struggle for democracy onto the streets. Hence, with the exception of Dr Fong Kim Heng from People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
who resigned his seat on November, 6 other vacant constituencies are caused by the mass resignation from the members of BS legislators that are divided into 3 phases that triggers 3 different by-elections in the year, namely, January, March and November. The final phase of the resignation by BS legislators was made in 1967 January and hence shortly 3 months after the third by election in 1966 November, a 1967 by election
Singaporean by-election, 1967
The Singaporean by-election of 1967 was triggered by the final batch of mass resignations from Barisan Sosialis 's elected Members of Parliament who heeded to Lim Huan Boon's call on the grounds that Singapore's independence was "phony" because no discussion of Singapore's separation matter was...
was held, which is the last before 1968 general elections
Singaporean general election, 1968
General elections were held in Singapore on 19 April 1968, the first after independence from Malaysia. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 58 seats, the first of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat...
.
First 1966 By Election (January)
The nomination day was set at 8 January 1966 while the polling day was held 10 days later as the result of the resignation of Lim Huan Boon which translates into the vacation of Bukit Merah constituency.Second 1966 By Election (March)
Shortly after the first in January, another 3 BS members, namely S. T. Bani, Chio Cheng Thun and Kow Kee Seng have resigned their seats as a part to boycott the parliament. Hence, it further translates into the vacant of Chua Chu Kang, Crawford and Paya Lebar constituency which sets the nomination day on 1 March 1966. However, all 3 constituencies went uncontested and returned to PAP without conducting a poll.Third 1966 By Election (November)
BS members Chia Thye PohChia Thye Poh
Chia Thye Poh was the longest-serving political prisoner in the history of Singapore and perhaps the longest-serving prisoner of conscience of the 20th century, if not one of its longest-serving political prisoners....
and Lee Tee Tong resigned their seats. Also People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
member, Dr Fong Kim Heng had resigned his seat on the grounds of poor health. With three resignations taking place, it vacates three seats, namely Bukit Timah, Joo Chiat and Jurong constituencies. Similar to the previous by election, all three seats were announced as walkovers to the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
on nomination day, 2 November 1966.
Aftermath of 1966 By Election
The aftermath of the boycott of the Parliament sparked off mass arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA), with notable people includes Chia Thye PohChia Thye Poh
Chia Thye Poh was the longest-serving political prisoner in the history of Singapore and perhaps the longest-serving prisoner of conscience of the 20th century, if not one of its longest-serving political prisoners....
who was detained under this Act for 22 years without any trial which became the world's second-longest incarcerated political prisoner. It is also meant the downturn of the opposition parties in Singapore as since then, Barisan Sosialis
Barisan Sosialis
The Barisan Sosialis is a former Singaporean left-wing political party formed in 1961, by left-wing members of the People's Action Party and led by Dr Lee Siew Choh and Lim Chin Siong.-Formation:...
had lost all their credibility and never returned to the parliament by an elected Member of Parliament while the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
had been winning all the parliamentary seats in the General elections and By elections until 15 years later on the famous 1981 Anson By Election
Singaporean by-election, 1981
By election was held on 31 October 1981 while the nomination day was held on 21 October 1981 because the original MP of Anson constituency C. V. Devan Nair had been nominated as the third President of Singapore, succeeding Benjamin Henry Sheares who had died on 12 May 1981.-Historical...
.