1981 Anson By-election

1981 Anson By-Election

The 1981 Anson by-election was a landmark event in Singapore’s political history, marking the end of the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) 15-year monopoly in Parliament. It also saw the Workers’ Party (WP) return to the legislature after two decades, with J. B. Jeyaretnam’s victory in the very seat that WP founder David Marshall had once held.

Background

PAP Member of Parliament (MP) C. V. Devan Nair vacated the Anson seat on 23 October 1981 following his appointment as the third President of Singapore. This triggered a by-election in the constituency for the third time in its history.

The contest drew significant political interest, with several parties and figures preparing to vie for the seat. The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) leaders, including Chiam See Tong, Fok Tai Loy, and Soon Kia Seng, attended the nomination centre.

Although SDP did not reveal its prospective candidate, the party chose to withdraw from the race after discussions with WP leader J. B. Jeyaretnam.

Meanwhile, the United People’s Front (UPF) leader Harbans Singh entered the contest.

The PAP fielded Pang Kim Hin, the nephew of Minister Lim Kim San, despite Lim’s reservations about Pang’s affluent background and its potential disconnect with the constituency’s working-class voters.

Anson’s residents, many of whom were Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) employees facing housing relocation challenges, became a critical voting bloc.

Election Details

Writ of Election Issued: 14 October 1981 (Wednesday)
Nomination Day: 21 October 1981 (Wednesday)
Polling Day: 31 October 1981 (Saturday)
Swearing-In Ceremony: 22 December 1981 (Tuesday)
Eligible Voters: 14,512
Voter Turnout: 13,746 (94.7%)
Election Deposit: $1,500

Results

J. B. Jeyaretnam emerged victorious, defeating PAP’s Pang Kim Hin and UPF’s Harbans Singh. This victory was significant for several reasons:

End of PAP Monopoly: The win ended PAP’s 15-year exclusive control of Parliament, which had persisted since Barisan Sosialis’ boycott in 1966.
Return of WP: WP re-entered the legislature after 20 years, reclaiming the Anson seat previously won by David Marshall in 1961.
Record Vote Swing: The by-election set a record for the largest vote swing in Singapore’s post-independence electoral history.
PAP’s Campaign Setback: The loss was particularly bruising for rising PAP star Goh Chok Tong, who led the party’s campaign.

Significance

Opposition Milestone: Jeyaretnam’s victory provided a morale boost to opposition parties, proving that PAP’s dominance could be challenged.
Policy and Campaign Implications: The loss highlighted the importance of addressing local constituency issues, such as housing relocation, and underscored the limitations of relying on high-profile candidates like Pang Kim Hin.
Historical Context: Pang Kim Hin remains the only first-time PAP candidate who did not return to politics after a single defeat, illustrating the high stakes of this by-election.

Legacy

The 1981 Anson by-election marked a turning point in Singapore’s political landscape, demonstrating the potential for opposition voices to gain a foothold in Parliament. It also set the stage for further electoral challenges to PAP’s dominance in subsequent years.