Singaporean general election, 1988
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Singapore
on 3 September 1988. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party
, which won 80 of the 81 seats. Voter turnout was 94.7%, although this figure represents the turnout in the 50 constituencies to be contested, with PAP candidates earning walkovers in the other 31.
led the PAP in an election and another two stalwarts, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye
and Senior Minister S. Rajaratnam, retired for the PAP's renewal process.
Two seats were vacated in 1986 - the seat of Anson for Workers' Party
(WP) Member of Parliament and chief J. B. Jeyaretnam
and Geylang West of PAP MP Teh Cheang Wan
, the former convicted and disqualified as MP for improper party accounts, while the latter committed suicide while on investigations for corruption - but no by-election was held. The Workers' Party absorbed two parties, Barisan Sosialis
(BS) and Singapore United Front to become the largest opposition party and also allied with the Malay party PKMS as one common unit.
Former solicitor-general and Law Society president, Francis Seow
, standing under the WP ticket in Eunos Group Representation Constituency
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 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 of 50.9% for the PAP and 49.1% for the WP.
With the Singapore Democratic Party
leader's Chiam See Tong
sole victory in the seat of Potong Pasir
, two Non-Constituency MP seats were offered to Dr Lee and Seow.
Francis Seow fled the country to avoid arrest and was disqualified from the post while Dr Lee 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 significant increase of election deposit.
In November 1990, two years after the election, the Nominated MP scheme was implemented to introduce non-partisan voices into the legislature. Although the law allowed up to six NMPs, two were appointed at the start and served for a year before the Parliament term ended.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
on 3 September 1988. The result was a victory for 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....
, which won 80 of the 81 seats. Voter turnout was 94.7%, although this figure represents the turnout in the 50 constituencies to be contested, with PAP candidates earning walkovers in the other 31.
Overview
Group Representation Constituencies were introduced in this general election to ensure ethnic minority representation in Parliament, starting with three joint constituencies. This was the last time Prime Minister Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
led the PAP in an election and another two stalwarts, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye
Toh Chin Chye
Toh Chin Chye is a prominent first generation political leader in Singapore. He completed his Secondary education in St. George's Institution and continued his studies at Raffles College and the University of London. Subsequently, Toh received his PhD at the National Institute for Medical...
and Senior Minister S. Rajaratnam, retired for the PAP's renewal process.
Two seats were vacated in 1986 - the seat of Anson for Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Singapore
The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
(WP) Member of Parliament and chief J. B. Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
and Geylang West of PAP MP Teh Cheang Wan
Teh Cheang Wan
Teh Cheang Wan was an architect who was in charge of the Housing Development Board as Minister for National Development of Singapore. He served as the minister between 1979 to 1986.-Education:...
, the former convicted and disqualified as MP for improper party accounts, while the latter committed suicide while on investigations for corruption - but no by-election was held. The Workers' Party absorbed two parties, 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:...
(BS) and Singapore United Front to become the largest opposition party and also allied with the Malay party PKMS as one common unit.
Former solicitor-general and Law Society president, Francis Seow
Francis Seow
Francis Seow is a Singapore-born political dissident who is in exile from Singapore after lawsuits by the former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew. He was educated at Saint Joseph's Institution in Singapore and at the Middle Temple in London...
, standing under the WP ticket in Eunos Group Representation Constituency
Eunos Group Representation Constituency
Eunos Group Representation Constituency is a defunct Group Representation Constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore...
with veteran politician Dr Lee Siew Choh
Lee Siew Choh
Dr. Lee Siew Choh was a politician and medical doctor from Singapore. Initially a member of the People's Action Party , he became a leader of the breakaway Barisan Sosialis in 1961...
, came under fire from the PAP leadership for his alleged dubious financial circumstances. Nevertheless, the strong WP team caught PAP's attention and Tay Eng Soon
Tay Eng Soon
Dr. Tay Eng Soon was a Singaporean politician. A member of the People's Action Party, he was Senior Minister of State from 1988 until his death in office....
, a popular PAP stalwart, was switched to face the team. In the end, PAP won the GRC by an extremely narrow margin of 50.9% for the PAP and 49.1% for the WP.
With the Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
leader's Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
sole victory in the seat of Potong Pasir
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency is a Single Member Constituency in the central region of Singapore.-Location:The SMC encompasses Potong Pasir, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and Tannery...
, two Non-Constituency MP seats were offered to Dr Lee and Seow.
Francis Seow fled the country to avoid arrest and was disqualified from the post while Dr Lee 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 significant increase of election deposit.
In November 1990, two years after the election, the Nominated MP scheme was implemented to introduce non-partisan voices into the legislature. Although the law allowed up to six NMPs, two were appointed at the start and served for a year before the Parliament term ended.
Boundary changes
The following were merged into GRCs:- Aljunied, Kampong Kembangan and Kampong Ubi divisions were merged into Aljunied GRC.
- Bedok, Kampong Chai Chee and Tanah Merah divisions were merged into Bedok GRC.
- Cheng San, Chong Boon and Jalan Kayu divisions were merged into Cheng San GRC.
- Eunos, Kaki Bukit and part of Tampines divisions were merged into Eunos GRC.
- Part of Hong Kah, Yuhua and Bukit Batok divisions were merged into Hong Kah GRC.
- Jalan Besar, Kolam Ayer and Geylang West divisions were merged into Jalan Besar GRC.
- Marine Parade, Joo Chiat and Geylang Serai divisions were merged into Marine Parade GRC.
- Part of Nee Soon and most of Sembawang divisions were merged into Sembawang GRC.
- Tampines division were evolved into Tampines GRC.
- Tiong Bahru, Radin Mas and Henderson divisions were evolved into Tiong Bahru GRC.
- Boon Teck, Kuo Chuan and Toa Payoh divisions were evolved into Toa Payoh GRC.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.... |
848,029 | 63.2 | 80 | |
| Workers' Party Workers' Party of Singapore The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of... |
224,473 | 16.7 | 0 | |
| Singapore Democratic Party Singapore Democratic Party The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir... |
158,341 | 11.8 | 1 | 0 |
| National Solidarity Party | 50,432 | 3.8 | 0 | New |
| United People's Front | 17,282 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Singapore Justice Party Singapore Justice Party The Justice Party, Singapore is a political party in Singapore.The party has been based mostly in Marine Parade district of Singapore since the party has taken part in general elections after 1988 by fielding its candidates only at Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency... |
14,660 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Singapore Malay National Organisation Singapore Malay National Organisation The Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura is a political party in Singapore. The party recently concluded their AGM on 8th August 2010. The current president is Mr Ali bin Asjadi, while the party's secretary general is Mr Mohd Nazem Suki.-External links:*Related Links:... |
13,526 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Angkatan Islam | 280 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Independents | 15,412 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 30,629 | |||
| Total | 1,373,064 | 100 | 81 | +2 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||