1951 Legislative Council General Election

The 1951 Legislative Council election in Singapore marked a significant development in the colony’s political landscape, with changes in constituency boundaries, the entry of new political players, and notable candidates shaping the election’s narrative.

Background

In preparation for the election, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies approved proposals to increase the number of nationally-elected seats from six to nine, raising the total number of seats in the Council from 22 to 25. Additionally, political parties successfully advocated for the re-delineation of constituencies:

The two dual-seat municipal constituencies were divided in line with the boundaries of six municipal districts: Balestier (North), Keppel (South), Katong (East), and Tanglin (West).
The two rural wards were re-demarcated into three constituencies.

The remaining 16 seats—a mix of official and unofficial members—remained unchanged.

Key Events and Figures

The Progressive Party (PP), already an established political force, faced competition from the Labour Party (LP), which had previously contested in municipal elections but now entered the legislative arena.

Notable Developments

Elizabeth Choy’s Appointment: After the election, Mrs. Elizabeth Choy, a celebrated war heroine, was appointed to one of the four nominated unofficial seats. She became the first and only woman to serve on the Legislative Council.
Mansoor bin Adabi’s Withdrawal: Mansoor bin Adabi, a prominent Malay politician and husband of Maria Bertha Hertogh (Natra binte Maarof), whose parentage controversy and court verdict had triggered a racial riot in Singapore a year prior, was expected to contest Bukit Timah under the PP ticket. However, he withdrew his nomination at the last moment for reasons unknown.
Lee Kuan Yew’s Role: Lee Kuan Yew, then a legal assistant at John Laycock’s law firm, served as the campaign manager for Laycock, who was the PP’s vice-chairman.

Voting remained non-compulsory and was restricted to select citizens.

Election Details

Dissolution of Old Council: 16 February 1951 (Friday)
Nomination Day: 8 March 1951 (Thursday)
Polling Day: 10 April 1951 (Tuesday)
Opening of New Council: 17 April 1951 (Tuesday)
Election Deposit: $500

Voter Turnout

Out of 48,155 registered voters, 25,065 participated in the election, reflecting a voter turnout of 52.1%.

Chambers of Commerce Election

Separate elections were held for the Chambers of Commerce seats:

Nomination Days:
- 2 March 1951 (Friday) for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- 6 March 1951 (Tuesday) for the Singapore Chamber of Commerce (SCC)
Polling Day: 15 March 1951 (Thursday) for the ICC