1957 Legislative Assembly By-election
The 1957 Tanjong Pagar by-election was a significant political event in Singapore’s history, marked by the resignation of two prominent leaders, David Marshall and Lee Kuan Yew, and the shifting dynamics of political alliances.
Background
David Marshall resigned as Chief Minister on 7 June 1956 after his bid for self-governance during discussions with the British was unsuccessful. His successor, Lim Yew Hock, led a subsequent delegation a few months later that included opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew.
As a backbencher for the Labour Front (LF), Marshall criticized Lee for conceding to the British’s terms during negotiations. Marshall challenged Lee to contest in his Tanjong Pagar constituency, a dare that Lee accepted. On 26 April 1957, Lee resigned from his seat, followed three days later by Marshall, who announced his retirement from politics, citing concerns over potential violent protests.
Key Developments
- Resignations: Both Marshall and Lee vacated their seats, triggering the by-election. Lee contested his seat again, while the LF replaced Marshall with a new candidate.
- Party Dynamics: By this time, LF’s internal strife had resulted in the expulsion or resignation of three of its Assembly Members (AMs), though independent AM M. P. D. Nair joined LF. The newly-formed Liberal Socialist Party (LSP), a merger of the Progressive Party (PP) and the Democratic Party (DP), fielded candidates in the election. LSP gained an AM when independent R. Jumabhoy joined but lost one when Lim Cher Keng resigned.
- Kesatuan Melayu (KM) Expulsion: KM was expelled from the UMNO-MCA alliance for violating an agreement that barred component parties from participating in the by-election. KM’s sole AM supported the expulsion and defected to UMNO.
Election Outcome
- Lee Kuan Yew’s Victory: Lee Kuan Yew was successfully returned to his Tanjong Pagar seat, solidifying his leadership and political position.
- LSP Success: The LSP candidate won in the other constituency vacated by Marshall, marking a significant gain for the newly-formed party.
- Labour Front’s Decline: The Labour Front’s influence continued to wane as it failed to secure Marshall’s vacated seat.
Election Details
- Writ of Election Issued: 3 May 1957 (Friday)
- Nomination Day: 18 May 1957 (Monday)
- Polling Day: 29 June 1957 (Friday)
- Swearing-In Ceremony: 17 July 1957 (Wednesday)
- Eligible Voters: 29,563
- Voter Turnout: 12,874 (43.5%)
- Election Deposit: $500
Significance
The 1957 Tanjong Pagar by-election highlighted the political realignments and ideological battles of the period. It underscored the fragmentation within the Labour Front, the consolidation of the LSP, and Lee Kuan Yew’s growing political prominence. The by-election also illustrated the volatile nature of Singapore’s political landscape as it moved toward self-governance.