1968 General Election

The 1968 Parliamentary General Election marked Singapore’s first General Election since its independence in 1965. It was notable for its unprecedented campaigning period, new electoral boundaries, and the dominance of the People’s Action Party (PAP), which won a historic uncontested majority.

Background

Following the resignations of 11 Barisan Sosialis Members of Parliament and the flight of two Barisan MPs to evade arrest by the Internal Security Department, the Parliament was left entirely composed of PAP MPs. To address population growth and ensure fair representation, an Electoral Boundaries Delineation Committee was established.

The committee presented its recommendations on 25 August 1967, leading to the introduction of the Parliamentary Membership Bill on 31 October 1967.

The bill, passed on 14 November 1967, carved out eight new wards. Due to its decreasing population, Southern Islands was absorbed into the mainland constituencies of Jurong, Pasir Panjang, and Telok Blangah.

Election Campaign

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew set the campaigning period at the maximum 56 days to allow all relevant issues to be thoroughly discussed in public. However, Barisan Sosialis boycotted the election, declaring Singapore’s independence as "phoney" and urging other opposition parties to follow suit.

Most heeded the call, except for the Workers’ Party (WP), which fielded candidates in former Barisan strongholds.

A few independents also contested, but the chiefs of PKMS (formerly UMNO) and SCP (formerly MCA) refrained from filing their nominations despite initial interest.

Election Details

• 1st Parliament Dissolved: 8 February 1968 (Thursday)
• Nomination Day: 17 February 1968 (Saturday)
• Polling Day: 13 April 1968 (Saturday)
• 2nd Parliament Opening: 6 May 1968 (Monday)
• Electorate: 759,367
• Walkover Voters: 674,484 (88.8%)
• Eligible Voters: 84,883 (11.2%)
• Voter Turnout: 77,952 (91.8%)
• Election Deposit: $500

Results

Four historical records were set in this election:

1. Uncontested Victory: PAP returned to power on Nomination Day, winning an uncontested majority.
2. Complete Seat Capture: It was the first time PAP won all available seats.
3. Fewest Contested Seats: The election featured the least number of contested seats in Singapore’s history.
4. Largest Margin: Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew achieved the largest winning margin ever recorded.

This election also established the pattern of uncontested constituencies as a feature of Singapore’s General Elections for nearly five decades until 2015.

Significance

The 1968 General Election underscored the PAP’s political dominance in Singapore. The Barisan boycott, coupled with the absence of significant opposition, further consolidated PAP’s power. The election also reflected the shifting dynamics of Singapore’s political landscape in the early years of independence, where stability and governance were prioritized over pluralism.