People's Action Party

Formation and Early Years (1954-1959)

The People's Action Party (PAP) was formed on 21 November 1954 by a group of British-educated left-wing lawyers and trade unionists, including Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, S. Rajaratnam, Toh Chin Chye, and Devan Nair. The founding members were motivated by the desire to end British colonial rule in Singapore and achieve full self-governance. They also aimed to create a democratic, socialist society. Many of the founding members had ties with the English-educated and Chinese-educated leftist movements.

The party's formation came at a time when Singapore was dealing with the political turbulence of the post-war period, including communist insurgency in Malaya and labour unrest. The PAP quickly positioned itself as a party that could negotiate Singapore’s transition from colonial rule to self-governance. The PAP's platform at its inception included calls for independence through merger with Malaysia, democratic socialism, and multiracialism.

Party Ideology

At its formation, the PAP espoused a mix of democratic socialism and anti-colonialism, and it aimed to champion the working class. The party's leadership was split between English-educated moderates like Lee Kuan Yew and radical left-wing members who had strong ties to the communist-linked trade unions. Over time, the PAP leadership would tilt towards the right, abandoning socialist elements in favor of economic pragmatism and capitalist development.

Multiracialism: From the start, the PAP emphasized racial harmony and equality in a country composed of various ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays, Indians, and others).
Economic pragmatism: Though initially oriented towards socialism, PAP gradually shifted towards economic policies that embraced foreign investment, industrialization, and a capitalist model, while maintaining strong state control over key sectors of the economy.
Authoritarianism and meritocracy: PAP has consistently emphasized meritocratic governance, but it has also been accused of authoritarian tendencies, particularly in limiting political opposition and controlling dissent through legal and political mechanisms.
Anti-communism: Although there were leftist elements within the party in its early years, the leadership, particularly Lee Kuan Yew, became increasingly anti-communist as Singapore faced challenges from leftist insurgencies in Malaya and the region.

The Split and Merger with Malaysia (1959-1965)

In 1959, Singapore achieved self-government, and the PAP won a decisive victory in the first general election under the new constitution, with Lee Kuan Yew becoming Prime Minister. However, the party faced internal tensions between the pro-communist faction and the moderates. By 1961, the left-wing members, dissatisfied with the direction of the party, split to form the Barisan Sosialis.

This division solidified the PAP's move towards more centrist policies. Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP leadership focused on achieving independence through merger with the Federation of Malaya. The reasoning was that merger would offer Singapore better security and economic stability. After negotiations, Singapore merged with Malaysia in 1963, but the arrangement quickly soured due to ethnic tensions and political differences, especially between the PAP and the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant party in Malaysia. Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in 1965, and it became an independent republic.

Building a Nation (1965-1990)

After independence in 1965, the PAP faced the monumental challenge of transforming Singapore into a viable, independent state. The party pursued aggressive economic development, focusing on industrialization, attracting foreign direct investment, and creating a world-class infrastructure.

During this period, PAP ideology shifted from socialism towards a more pragmatic, capitalist approach, where the state played a strong role in regulating the economy but embraced market forces. The government invested heavily in education, housing (the HDB program), healthcare, and infrastructure.

PAP maintained tight control over the political landscape. The party's dominance was ensured through a combination of meritocratic policies that ensured economic growth, as well as measures such as the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allowed detention without trial, used to suppress communist sympathizers and other perceived threats.

Economic Growth: PAP's focus on economic pragmatism turned Singapore into a global financial and trade hub. Under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore experienced rapid modernization, rising living standards, and substantial foreign investment.
One-Party Dominance: The PAP established itself as the dominant party, with the opposition Barisan Sosialis weakening over time due to internal splits and the detention of its leaders.

PAP in the 1990s and 2000s: The Leadership Transition

In the 1990s, Singapore underwent a leadership transition. Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister in 1990. Goh’s leadership style was seen as more consultative and inclusive compared to the more hardline approach of his predecessor. However, the core ideology of the PAP — emphasizing meritocracy, economic pragmatism, and political stability — remained largely unchanged.

During Goh's tenure, Singapore continued its economic growth, positioning itself as a high-tech economy, but social issues like the cost of living, inequality, and political freedoms began to be discussed more openly. Opposition parties like the Workers’ Party began to gain a foothold, though the PAP continued to dominate Parliament.

In 2004, Goh Chok Tong was succeeded by Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew’s son, marking another leadership transition for the PAP. Under Lee Hsien Loong, the PAP government continued its emphasis on innovation and globalization, with policies aimed at keeping Singapore competitive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Political Liberalization: While there were some reforms, including loosening restrictions on political expression and media, PAP has maintained firm control over Singapore’s political system. The GRC (Group Representation Constituency) system, introduced in 1988, has been criticized for entrenching PAP’s dominance by making it harder for opposition parties to gain representation in Parliament.
Economic and Social Reforms: The PAP introduced various initiatives to tackle social issues, such as rising inequality and housing affordability, but critics argue that these reforms have not been far-reaching enough.

Recent History (2010-Present)

In the last decade, the PAP has faced greater electoral challenges. In the 2011 General Election, the PAP won 60.1% of the vote, its lowest share since independence, and lost the Aljunied GRC to the Workers' Party. The results were seen as a reflection of growing discontent over issues like rising costs of living, income inequality, and immigration policies.

In response to the growing dissatisfaction, the PAP government introduced reforms to address issues like social inequality, housing affordability, and an aging population. Measures like the SkillsFuture initiative, the Pioneer Generation Package, and Workfare were rolled out to provide more support for Singaporeans.

In the 2020 General Election, the PAP secured 83 out of 93 seats, but its popular vote share declined to 61.24%, with the Workers' Party making gains, including holding onto Aljunied GRC and winning Sengkang GRC. The results reflected the growing maturity of opposition politics in Singapore.

Leadership Transition to Lawrence Wong: In 2024, Lawrence Wong became the Prime Minister, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong. Wong was chosen as the leader of the 4G leadership team within the PAP. His leadership has focused on guiding Singapore through post-pandemic recovery, managing the economy in the face of global uncertainties, and dealing with evolving social challenges.
Continued Dominance and Challenges: While the PAP continues to dominate Singapore's political scene, it faces increased scrutiny from a more politically engaged electorate, particularly among younger voters. Issues such as freedom of speech, economic inequality, and transparency remain at the forefront of political discourse in Singapore.