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1963 Singaporean general election

Malaysian state election

Field	Value
country	Malaysia
flag_image	Flag of Singapore.svg
type	parliamentary
previous_election	1959 Singaporean general election
previous_year	1959
next_election	1968 Singaporean general election
next_year	1968
outgoing_members	2nd Legislative Assembly of Singapore
election_date	21 September 1963
elected_members	3rd Legislative Assembly of Singapore
registered	617,750
turnout	95.11% ( 5.04pp)
seats_for_election	All 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly
majority_seats	26
image_size	130x130px
image1	Mr. Lee Kuan Yew Mayoral reception 1965 (cropped).jpg
leader1	Lee Kuan Yew
party1	People's Action Party
last_election1	54.08%, 43 seats
seats1	37
seat_change1	6
popular_vote1	272,924
percentage1	46.93%
swing1	7.15pp
image2	3x4.svg
leader2	Lee Siew Choh
party2	Barisan Sosialis
last_election2	–
seats2	13
seat_change2	New
popular_vote2	193,301
percentage2	33.24%
swing2	New
image3	3x4.svg
leader3	Ong Eng Guan
party3	United People's Party (Singapore)
last_election3	–
seats3	1
seat_change3	New
popular_vote3	48,785
percentage3	8.39%
swing3	New
map_image	Map of the results of the 1963 Singaporean general election.svg
map_caption	Results by constituency
title	Prime Minister
before_election	Lee Kuan Yew
posttitle	Prime Minister after election
before_party	People's Action Party
after_election	Lee Kuan Yew
after_party	People's Action Party

General elections were held in Singapore on 21 September 1963 to elect all 51 members of the Legislative Assembly. This was the first and only general election held when Singapore was part of Malaysia as an autonomous state, and just days after it became fully independent from the United Kingdom on 16 September following full internal self-government in 1959. It was also the only election to date without any boundary changes to constituencies. The People's Action Party (PAP) under Lee Kuan Yew won 37 of the 51 seats, while 13 went to the Barisan Sosialis (BS) led by Lee Siew Choh, its left-wing splinter party. The United People's Party (UPP) secured one seat through its leader Ong Eng Guan, a former PAP member.

The ruling Alliance Party of Malaysia led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) contested the election through its Singapore branch (SAP) in an attempt to unseat the PAP, straining PAP–UMNO relations. However, the Alliance lost all seven of its seats which they held in Singapore, including those in Malay dominated areas. In response, the PAP contested seats in Peninsular Malaysia during the 1964 federal election the following year, further deepening tensions and mistrust between the Alliance federal government and the PAP state government.

A total of 210 candidates contested the elections, marking the largest slate in Singapore for over six decades until it was surpassed in 2025. The ruling PAP fielded candidates in all 51 seats, while its breakaway parties, BS and the UPP, each put forward 46 and the SAP fielded 42. This was the last election in which any party other than the PAP contested more than half the parliamentary seats. With the two PAP splinter groups and the Alliance fielding nearly full slates, it became one of the most fiercely contested elections and posed a serious challenge to the ruling PAP. Voter turnout reached 95.11%, the highest at the time in Singapore's history.

This was the most recent general election in which the PAP received less than half of the popular vote, at only 47%, and the last parliamentary election to date where MPs (29 out of 51) were elected by a plurality due to the first-past-the-post voting system. It was also the last general election in which an incumbent minister was defeated until 2011 and the last general election in which all seats were contested until 2015. With the Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965, this election was the only one that was held when Singapore was a state of Malaysia. After independence, the elected members of the Legislative Assembly subsequently become members of the inaugural Parliament of Singapore.

Background

Although the People's Action Party (PAP) had won 43 seats in the 1959 elections, they lost four seats in 1961 (two were from the by-election defeats, and two defected to the new United People's Party (UPP)). A further 13 legislators were expelled from PAP for voting against the government in a no-confidence motion on 20 July 1961; the dissidents subsequently formed a new party, the Barisan Sosialis (BS), alleging PAP as a communist front. The combination of by-election defeats, defections and expulsions reduced the PAP by 17 seats down to 26, leaving PAP with a one-seat majority.

On 3 July 1962, while the integration referendum debate was in procession, the PAP lost its majority following the resignation of legislator Ho Puay Choo (who later joined BS on 11 August). Five days later, UPP legislator S. V. Lingam returned to PAP fold, giving it back its one-seat majority. However, the PAP lost its majority again five days later after health minister Ahmad Ibrahim died from liver cancer. BS initially planned to field its iconic leader, Lim Chin Siong, in the vacated seat, but the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opted against a by-election, and instead called a fresh election.

On 31 August 1963, Singapore was declared fully independent from the United Kingdom (full internal self-government was granted in 1959) with PAP declared as trustees until the merger with Malaysia could be complete. On 3 September, Lee Kuan Yew dissolved the Legislative Assembly in accordance with procedure, the Proclamation of Malaysia was ratified on 16 September, and elections are to be held on 21 September. As part of the Malaysia Agreement, the head of government in Singapore were permitted to retain the title of "Prime Minister" despite there already being a prime minister of Malaysia, as Singapore were given more autonomy in some areas than the other states of Malaysia.

Timeline

22 October	Opening of [3rd Legislative Assembly](3rd-legislative-assembly-of-singapore)

Campaign

The elections, held in the midst of Singapore's merger with Malaysia, are remembered as the PAP's hardest-fought as the party faced intensive challenges from three other parties that fielded nearly full slates. BS collated with Parti Rakyat, and fielded candidates in all but two seats, while UPP had an unusually large number of candidates. Earlier that year on 2 February, as part of an anti-communist security operation, the PAP government with support of the Malaysian federal government and the British government had launched Operation Coldstore to detain several BS leaders, including Lim Chin Siong, which severely hampered BS.

On the final night of campaigning, PAP officials issued a sudden warning: if BS were to win the election and defeat the PAP, the federal government in Kuala Lumpur might deploy troops to Singapore and invoke emergency powers, bypassing the incoming BS-led government, allegedly due to its perceived pro-communist stance. This last-minute tactic, seen by many as fearmongering, left BS with no opportunity to respond. Nevertheless, it appeared to sway public sentiment and may have contributed significantly to the PAP's victory the following day.

The sole Workers' Party (WP) legislator David Marshall resigned from the party he founded and became the only independent. Another participant was Singapore Alliance, an extension of the ruling federal Alliance Party in Malaysia, which was a coalition consisting of the Singapore People's Alliance (SPA) along with the local branches of UMNO, the Malayan Chinese Association and Malayan Indian Congress. However, former Chief Minister and leader Lim Yew Hock opted not to run in the elections, citing a defamation campaign by the PAP.

Results

In terms of votes, Cairnhill candidate Lim Kim San had the best scoring result of 66.46%; however, 29 out of the 51 constituencies had elected by plurality as a result of first-past-the-post voting. Delta's MP-elect Chan Choy Siong had the narrowest winning margin of 0.46%. A total of 92 candidates lost their election deposits, with the lowest being 0.72%, held by Moulmein's independent candidate Soo Tho Siu Hee.

By constituency

Source:

Constituency	Electorate	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Swing	Margin
Aljunied	16,152	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	S. V. Lingam	7,745	50.90	+1.50
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Thio Kheng Lock	4,624	30.39	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lim Koon Teck	1,681	11.05	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Woo Kong Seng	1,165	7.66	New
Anson	9,192	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Perumal Govindaswamy	3,957	46.90	–13.85
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Chan Chong Keen	3,123	37.02	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	A. K. Isaac	543	6.44	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	David Marshall	416	4.93	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Vythalingam V.	306	3.63	New
Workers' Party of Singapore}}		Workers' Party	Chiang Seok Keong	91	1.08	New
Bras Basah	10,678	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Ho See Beng	4,926	51.80	–11.55
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Leong Kwan Fai	3,831	40.28	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Pan Cheng Luan	335	3.52	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Wong Chin Sen	304	3.20	New
Workers' Party of Singapore}}		Workers' Party	Chua Chin Kiat	114	1.20	New
Bukit Merah	12,225	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lim Huan Boon	4,963	42.84	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Sellappa Ramaswamy	4,520	39.02	–20.07
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Poon Weng Ying	1,129	9.75	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Shums Tung Tao Chang	740	6.39	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Ngon Eng Kok	232	2.00	New
Bukit Panjang	12,997	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Ong Lian Teng	5,679	46.45	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Lee Khoon Choy	4,940	40.41	–17.90
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Loo Bah Chit	999	8.17	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Thuan Paik Phok	607	4.97	New
Bukit Timah	12,502	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lee Tee Tong	6,173	52.39	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Chor Yeok Eng	4,982	42.28	–18.86
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ong Tiong Kuan	628	5.33	New
Cairnhill	12,340	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Lim Kim San	7,749	66.46	+45.78
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lim Ang Chuan	2,443	20.95	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lee Ah Seong	1,467	12.59	New
Changi	11,866	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Sim Boon Woo	4,808	42.78	New
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Siek Shing Min	3,425	30.48	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Syed Esa Almenoar	1,975	17.57	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Abdullah Masood	935	8.32	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	M. N. Yahya	95	0.85	New
Chua Chu Kang	8,198	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Chio Cheng Thun	3,753	48.59	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Lim Kim Hian	2,429	31.45	–24.84
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Sim Chit Giak	800	10.36	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Neo Guan Choo	396	5.13	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Goh Tong Liang	345	4.47	New
Crawford	10,949	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	S. T. Bani	4,400	42.75	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	K. M. Byrne	4,207	40.88	–26.69
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Lau Tok Keong	1,032	10.03	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	S. A. Hsieh	571	5.55	New
Workers' Party of Singapore}}		Workers' Party	Goh Tong Liang	81	0.79	New
Delta	14,037	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Chan Choy Siong	5,417	40.53	–18.92
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Wee Toon Lip	5,354	40.07	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Chen Chia Kuang	2,233	16.71	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Wong Kui Yu	359	2.69	New
Farrer Park	10,189	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	S. Rajoo	5,365	55.71	+13.86
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lee Chin Siang	2,619	27.20	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Arumugam Ponnu Rajah	1,232	12.79	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Wee Kia Eng	414	4.30	New
Geylang East	16,014	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Ho Cheng Choon	7,165	47.28	–4.67
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Phua Soon Lian	5,389	35.56	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Ng Cheng Chwee	1,467	9.68	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Tan Peng Seah	1,134	7.48	New
Geylang Serai	15,302	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Rahamat bin Kenap	6,722	48.01	+17.56
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Ahmad b. Hj. Taff	5,019	35.85	New
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party}}		Pan-Malayan Islamic Party	M. Taha Suhaimi	1,201	8.58	+4.92
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Darus Shariff	1,059	7.56	New
Geylang West	15,386	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Yong Nyuk Lin	6,288	43.63	–23.97
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Un Hon Kun	5,670	39.34	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Kum Teng Hock	1,541	10.69	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Mohd. B. Hj. Yacob	914	6.34	New
Havelock	15,159	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Loh Miaw Gong	6,304	44.05	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Wong Chun Choi	4,157	29.05	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ng Chee Sen	3,209	22.42	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lim Ser Puan	641	4.48	New
Hong Lim	12,003	United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ong Eng Guan	5,066	44.47	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Seah Mui Kok	3,789	33.27	–43.75
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lim Chien Sen	2,344	20.58	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Sam Tai Guan	191	1.68	New
Jalan Besar	13,764	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Chan Chee Seng	6,686	51.87	–10.61
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Ng Ngeong Yew	5,172	40.12	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Yong Wan Kit	1,033	8.01	New
Jalan Kayu	9,164	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Tan Cheng Tong	3,312	38.04	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Teo Hup Teck	2,676	30.73	–31.55
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Lui Boon Phor	1,146	13.16	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	M. P. D. Nair	1,057	12.14	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Ong Yu Thoh	516	5.93	New
Joo Chiat	14,966	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Fong Kim Heng	9,300	65.88	+25.25
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Leong Keng Seng	3,737	26.48	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Seow Peck Leng	1,078	7.64	New
Jurong	7,611	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Chia Thye Poh	3,973	55.85	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Ong Soo Chuan	2,268	31.89	–38.78
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Soh U Loh	501	7.04	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Wong Tuck Leong	371	5.22	New
Kallang	16,974	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Buang bin Omar Junid	8,479	52.21	+3.03
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	P. Oorjitham	5,215	32.11	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Mohd. Shariff B. D.	1,166	7.18	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Tan Hock Lim	969	5.97	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Tan Hai Tong	411	2.53	New
Kampong Glam	10,186	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	S. Rajaratnam	4,313	44.79	–20.48
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Tan Jing Quee	4,093	42.50	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Harbans Singh	1,224	12.71	New
Kampong Kapor	11,672	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	M. Awang	4,554	41.93	–12.34
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lim Hock Thiam	4,155	38.27	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Nalliah Karuppiah	1,143	10.53	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Chia Ban Wei	1,006	9.27	New
Kampong Kembangan	15,787	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Mohamed Ariff Suradi	7,127	48.31	+11.58
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Ali Alwi	3,692	25.03	New
Parti Rakyat Malaysia}}		Partai Rakyat	Saleha Binte Md. Shah	2,674	18.13	+16.11
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ibrahim B. Jaffar	914	6.20	New
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party}}		Pan-Malayan Islamic Party	Mohd. Dali B. Muin	344	2.33	–0.44
Kreta Ayer	13,103	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Goh Keng Swee	8,059	65.47	–7.88
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lau Peter	3,646	29.62	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Loke Wan	604	4.91	New
Moulmein	10,670	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Avadai Dhanam Lakshimi-Devan Nair	5,856	58.00	–10.75
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Tann Wee Tiong	3,051	30.22	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Neo Hay Chan	575	5.69	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Koh Chiat Lim	542	5.37	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Soo Tho Siu Hee	73	0.72	New
Mountbatten	16,843	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Ng Yeow Chong	7,751	48.97	+25.13
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Fung Yin Ching	5,158	32.59	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lee Kim Chuan	1,865	11.78	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Felice Leon-Soh	1,053	6.66	New
Nee Soon	10,064	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Chan Sun Wing	4,914	51.33	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	How Kang Yong	3,329	34.77	–38.53
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Goh Soo Ming	864	9.02	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Yeo Teo Bok	364	3.80	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Lim Siak Guan	103	1.08	New
Pasir Panjang	6,721	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Othman Wok	2,879	45.30	+9.30
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Tay Cheng Kang	1,887	29.69	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Ahmad bin Rahmat	1,351	21.26	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Yong Ah Kau	238	3.75	New
Paya Lebar	13,544	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Kow Kee Seng	6,152	47.96	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Tan Kia Gan	5,402	42.11	–18.70
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Yeo Keng Wee	858	6.69	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Goh Yeow Dek	415	3.24	New
Punggol	10,294	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Ng Kah Ting	4,721	47.76	+1.37
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Koh Chit Kiang	2,860	28.93	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Tan Jin Hong	1,320	13.35	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Lee Jiak Seck	984	9.96	New
Queenstown	16,133	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Jek Yeun Thong	8,165	52.81	+1.00
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lee Ek Chong	5,589	36.15	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ng Ho	909	5.88	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lee Khee Loong	798	5.16	New
River Valley	10,532	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Lim Cheng Lock	5,597	56.67	+20.12
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Goh Lam San	2,668	27.01	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Yap Pheng Geck	1,156	11.71	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Chung Kit Wong	455	4.61	New
Rochore	11,698	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Toh Chin Chye	5,015	45.56	–26.20
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lee Siew Choh	4,926	44.75	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Pan Tiek Tai	1,067	9.69	New
Sembawang	9,329	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Teong Eng Siong	3,745	42.17	–12.52
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Chen Poh Chang	3,591	40.43	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Appavoo P.	1,197	13.48	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Low Seng Wan	348	3.92	New
Sepoy Lines	10,046	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Wee Toon Boon	4,907	52.25	–6.10
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Ong Chang Sam	3,147	33.51	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Goh Su Chiang	793	8.44	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Tan Choon Sing	545	5.80	New
Serangoon Gardens	8,765	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	R. A. Gonzales	4,456	53.40	+4.47
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Ng Hui Sim	2,698	32.33	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ng Teo Joo	736	8.82	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Choy Kok Wah	455	5.45	New
Siglap	15,915	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Abdul Rahim Ishak	9,342	62.12	+27.78
Parti Rakyat Malaysia}}		Partai Rakyat	Tay Check Yaw	2,618	17.41	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Soo Ban Hoe	1,488	9.89	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ong Jin Teck	1,365	9.08	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Koh Tee Kin	225	1.50	New
Southern Islands	5,236	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Yaacob bin Mohamed	2,764	55.41	+30.07
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Ahmad Jabri b. Akib	2,224	44.59	New
Stamford	11,628	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Fong Sip Chee	5,781	53.27	+4.09
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Teo Hock Guan	3,719	34.27	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Lim Chung Min	771	7.10	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lal Behari Singh	582	5.36	New
Tampines	13,137	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Poh Ber Liak	5,976	48.33	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Goh Chew Chua	3,601	29.13	–44.14
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Liam Tian Seng	2,130	17.23	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Lim Jew Kan	656	5.31	New
Tanglin	9,239	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	E. W. Barker	4,424	51.07	+20.96
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Tan Cheow Hock	1,997	23.06	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Thio Chan Bee	1,738	20.07	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Eng Chau Sam	336	3.88	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Ariffin b. Md Said	166	1.92	New
Tanjong Pagar	11,395	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Lee Kuan Yew	6,317	58.93	–12.11
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Ong Hock Siang	3,537	32.99	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Lim Peng Kang	473	4.41	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Chng Boon Eng	393	3.67	New
Telok Ayer	13,219	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Ong Pang Boon	5,390	44.01	–23.37
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Lam Chit Lee	4,987	40.72	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Goh Hong Keng	1,484	12.12	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Wang Chung Kwang	385	3.15	New
Telok Blangah	13,263	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Bernard Rodrigues	4,949	39.82	–10.59
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Jukri b. Parjo	4,327	34.82	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Abdul Rahman	2,627	21.14	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Tan Swee Huat	525	4.22	New
Thomson	11,336	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Koo Young	5,292	49.17	–5.46
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Leo Keng Fong	4,248	39.47	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Loo Ka Thiam	1,223	11.36	New
Tiong Bahru	12,534	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Lee Teck Him	5,731	48.15	+0.49
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Soon Dit Woo	3,798	31.91	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ng Teng Kian	1,088	9.14	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	William Tan	777	6.53	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Tan Kok Siong	508	4.27	New
Toa Payoh	13,394	Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Wong Soon Fong	6,083	48.20	New
People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Yip Sai Weng	4,276	33.88	–43.78
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Goh Nee Kim	1,501	11.89	New
	United Democratic Party	Tan Chor Yong	760	6.03	New
Ulu Pandan	11,866	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Chow Chiok Hock	5,000	44.86	–0.58
Parti Rakyat Malaysia}}		Partai Rakyat	Johari bin Sonto	2,967	26.62	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Anang b. H. A. Manan	1,729	15.51	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Ler Chin Tee	1,450	13.01	New
Upper Serangoon	12,433	People's Action Party}}		People's Action Party	Sia Kah Hui	6,650	56.56	+11.50
Barisan Sosialis}}		Barisan Sosialis	Chia Yang Loong	3,547	30.17	New
United People's Party (Singapore)}}		United People's Party	Phua Gek Boon	595	5.06	New
Independent (politician)}}		Independent	Lim Choon Mong	573	4.87	New
Singapore Alliance}}		Singapore Alliance Party	Wu Moh Chye	393	3.34	New
Source: [ELD](https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1963.html), [Singapore Elections](https://sg-elections.com/general-election/1963/index.html)

Aftermath and analysis

The PAP won a landslide victory, securing 37 seats and retaining its two-thirds majority in the Legislative Assembly. This result had been uncertain in the lead-up to the vote, and while the PAP emerged as the clear winner, its overall vote share was only 46.93%, the lowest in its history. Several key factors contributed to this outcome despite strong competition from BS. One major reason was the PAP's last-minute warning that if BS formed the government, the federal government in Kuala Lumpur could respond by sending troops into Singapore and enforcing emergency powers. Many voters were also concerned that BS' opposition to merger with Malaya would jeopardise such negotiations. Support for merger was strong among the public, and BS' alignment with Indonesia and the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) raised further alarm, especially as Indonesia had declared a Konfrontasi and begun provocative military activity in Borneo.

The English-educated middle class, worried about the rise of communism, voted tactically for the PAP after the left-wing split that created BS. The PAP also gained credit for its achievements in government since 1959. These included the construction of 26,000 flats by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), a reduction in unemployment and expanded investment in public services. Many voters saw continued PAP rule as essential for stability and progress. Although the opposition secured a total of 14 seats, both BS and UPP failed to win most of the constituencies they contested because of the split among anti-PAP voters. Additionally, 16 incumbent candidates were defeated, and the PAP experienced some notable losses, including cabinet ministers K. M. Byrne and Tan Kia Gan in Crawford and Paya Lebar respectively, marking the first time a cabinet minister had lost in their own constituency. This would not happen again until 2011, 48 years and 11 elections later, when cabinet ministers Lim Hwee Hua and George Yeo were defeated in their constituency of Aljunied.

In the aftermath of the election, the PAP government passed a constitutional amendment stipulating that legislators who resign or are expelled from the parties they were elected under would lose their seats, in order to discourage future defections. As a result, by-elections were subsequently held in Hong Lim in 1965, seven constituencies in 1966 and five constituencies in 1967. Those victories resulted PAP in achieving a parliament monopoly that would last for the next 15 years until the first elected opposition MP in 1981. The changes during the 1963–1968 parliamentary term remains the biggest turnover of MPs in post-independence Singapore.

Federal government response

The Singapore Alliance Party also lost all seven seats it had held before dissolution. The federal Malaysian prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and the rest of UMNO were shocked by the Alliance's wipeout in the election. The Alliance which ruled the federal government had expected strong support from the Malay Singaporean electorate, as was the case in Peninsular Malaysia, but the PAP swept all of UMNO's Malay dominated constituencies, including Kampong Kembangan, Geylang Serai and the Southern Islands. Tunku attributed the setback to "traitors" within Singapore UMNO and among sections of the Singaporean Malay community. On 27 September, Tunku declared that he would "personally direct" UMNO's affairs in Singapore and play "an important part" in its future election campaigns. This deepened mistrust between the PAP state government and the Malaysian federal government, and became one of the factors leading to Singapore's expulsion two years later.

The Secretary General of UMNO, Syed Jaafar Albar, reacted even more strongly to the defeat, publicly vowing in the Malaysian federal parliament to "fix" Lee Kuan Yew using "both words and fists". Other Malay extremists delivered equally heated speeches at various meetings and alleged that the PAP had "intimidated" Malays into voting against UMNO, with some even burning an effigy of Lee at a meeting in Singapore to display their anger. The Singapore Alliance became dormant in 1965, and the Singapore People's Alliance, one of its membership parties, was dissolved on 16 May 1965, shortly before Singapore's independence from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Distribution of Singapore's seats in the Dewan Rakyat

The distribution of 15 seats from Singapore in Malaysia's lower house of Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat, was based on the outcome of the election. PAP was allocated 12, which were given to Prime Minister Lee, Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye, ministers Goh Keng Swee, Ong Pang Boon, S. Rajaratnam, Yong Nyuk Lin, Jek Yeun Thong, Lim Kim San, Othman Wok and assembly members Abdul Rahim Ishak, Wee Toon Boon and Ho See Beng. BS was allocated 3, which were given to Chia Thye Poh, Lim Huan Boon and Kow Kee Seng.

References

(31 May 1959). "PAP sweeps to power with 43 seats". Singapore Press Holdings.
Lau, Albert. (1998). "A Moment of Anguish: Singapore in Malaysia and the Politics of Disengagement". Times Academic Press.
(22 September 1963). "THIS IS THE WAY THE VOTING WENT". [[The Straits Times]].
Sonny Yap. (2010). "Men in White: The Untold Story of Singapore's Ruling Political Party". [[Singapore Press Holdings]].
"Singapore’s separation from Malaysia". [[National Library Board]].
"Background of Singapore Alliance". Singapore Elections.
(23 September 1963). "Defeat in Singapore shocks Tengku". The Straits Times.
Chia, Joshua Y.J.. "Labour Front".
"LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTION 1963". Singapore Elections.
"PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT". [[Dewan Rakyat]].

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