1948 Legislative Council By-election

Singapore’s first by-election was held in 1948 following the death of independent Legislative Councillor S. C. Goho. Goho, who had been elected less than five months earlier in the General Election, passed away in Calcutta on 24 July 1948. His untimely demise necessitated the first by-election in Singapore’s history.

Background

S. C. Goho’s death left a vacancy in the Legislative Council, prompting the issuance of a writ of election on 12 August 1948. The election process began with Nomination Day on 3 September 1948, followed by polling on 16 October 1948, and concluded with the swearing-in of the elected member on 19 October 1948.

Candidates

Four candidates were initially expected to contest the by-election, though only three successfully submitted their nominations:

Cheong Hock Chye: Representing the Progressive Party (PP), Cheong was a former independent candidate who had unsuccessfully contested the General Election earlier that year.
G. Maganlal: An independent candidate who surprised observers by filing his nomination papers at the last moment.
Balwant Singh: Another independent candidate, Balwant Singh had previously withdrawn his nomination for the Indian Chamber of Commerce seat during the General Election. He ultimately emerged victorious in the by-election.

A fourth candidate, M. A. Majid of the newly-formed Labour Party (LP), also intended to run. Majid, a former candidate in the General Election, failed to file his nomination papers in time due to a car breakdown, missing the deadline by seven minutes.

Election Details

Writ of Election Issued: 12 August 1948 (Thursday)
Nomination Day: 3 September 1948 (Friday)
Polling Day: 16 October 1948 (Saturday)
Swearing-In Ceremony: 19 October 1948 (Tuesday)
Election Deposit: $500

Voter Turnout

The constituency had 4,279 registered voters, of whom 3,121 cast their ballots, resulting in a voter turnout of 72.9%.

Outcome

Balwant Singh, running as an independent candidate, won the by-election, securing a seat in the Legislative Council. This by-election marked a significant moment in Singapore’s political history as the first instance of an electoral contest to fill a mid-term vacancy.