1997 Singaporean general election
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All 83 directly elected seats in Parliament (and up to 3 NCMPs) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Registered | 765,332 / 1,881,011[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 95.91% (![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results by constituency | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General elections were held in Singapore on 2 January 1997.
After nomination day on 23 December 1996, the People's Action Party returned to power for the second consecutive (and third overall) election as 47 (more than half of the total 83) seats were won uncontested. On polling day, voters voted for the election for the remaining 36 seats, with the opposition party candidates winning only in two seats, down from the four they won in the last election. In this election, Group Representation Constituencies were increased from four members to between four and six members (six-member seats would remain present for two decades until its first absence in the 2020 election).
Background
This election was Prime Minister
In 1993, a year following the events of the Marine Parade GRC by-election, the largest opposition party,
Timeline
Date | Event |
---|---|
21 November 1996 | Publication of Electoral Boundaries report |
16 December 1996 | Dissolution of 8th Parliament |
23 December 1996 | Nomination Day |
2 January | Polling day |
15 January | Announcement of Non-constituency Member of Parliament |
26 May | Opening of 9th Parliament |
Nominations and campaigning
The 8th Parliament was dissolved on 16 December 1996, and nominations were held exactly a week after. At the close of the nomination, 122 candidates were nominated among which PAP returned to power for the second consecutive (and third) election after a majority of seats (47) were uncontested; among which were
During campaigning,
Electoral boundaries
New six-member Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) were formed in the election, while six existing GRCs were absorbed into neighboring GRCs. Divisions of each constituencies which were either absorbed or carved out Single Member Constituencies (SMC), or creating smaller divisions, were reflected in the table:
Constituency | Changes |
---|---|
Aljunied GRC |
Ward upsized to five members Absorbed Eunos from Thomson GRC
|
Ang Mo Kio GRC |
Ward upsized to five members Absorbed Thomson GRC
|
Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC |
New Constituency Formed with Toa Payoh GRC , with Boon Teck and Kim Keat divisions absorbed to Toa Payoh Central division, and Kuo Chuan to Toa Payoh East division
|
Bukit Timah GRC |
New Constituency Formed with Brickworks GRC
|
Cheng San GRC |
Ward upsized to five members Punggol division was split into Punggol Central, Punggol East and Punggol South divisions Carved out Chong Boon division to Ang Mo Kio GRC and Cheng San division |
East Coast GRC |
New Constituency Absorbed Joo Chiat division from Bedok GRC Changi division was absorbed into Changi-Simei and Siglap divisions |
Hong Kah GRC |
Ward upsized to five members Absorbed a portion of Jurong SMC Hong Kah West division was split to include Nanyang division (which also absorbed a portion of Jurong SMC) |
Jalan Besar GRC |
Kallang division was dissolved into Kolam Ayer, Jalan Besar, Whampoa and Kampong Glam wards |
Kreta Ayer–Tanglin GRC |
New Constituency Formed with SMC )
|
Marine Parade GRC |
Ward upsized to six members Absorbed SMC , and Joo Chiat division into East Coast GRC
|
Pasir Ris GRC |
New Constituency Absorbed Eunos GRC , while Pasir Ris division was split into Pasir Ris Central, Pasir Ris East and Pasir Ris Loyang divisions
|
Sembawang GRC |
Ward upzised to six members Bukit Panjang and Sembawang divisions were split to include Marsiling and Woodlands divisions, respectively |
Tampines GRC |
Tampines West division was split to include Tampines Central division Carved a portion of Changkat South division to Aljunied GRC , while the rest absorbed to Tampines Changkat division
|
Tanjong Pagar GRC |
Ward upsized to six members Absorbed Brickworks and Queenstown division from Brickworks GRC , as well as Bukit Merah, Buona Vista and Leng Kee SMCsCarved out Telok Blangah division to West Coast GRC Brickworks division was absorbed into Pasir Panjang & Queenstown divisions |
West Coast GRC |
New Constituency Formed with Brickworks GRC
|
New and retiring candidates
24 PAP and 18 opposition candidates were among the candidates making their election debuts this year, while 17 incumbents were to retire ahead of the election. The list are as follows:
Retiring Candidates | New Candidates |
---|---|
S Dhanabalan (Toa Payoh GRC), 59 since 1976 (Ang Mo Kio GRC), 36 since 1991
Lau Teik Soon (Thomson GRC), 59 since 1976 Teo Chong Tee (Changi), 54 since 1976 Koh Lip Lin (Nee Soon South), 60 since 1979 S Chandra Das (Cheng San GRC), 57 since 1980 Yeo Ning Hong (Kampong Glam GRC), 53 since 1980 Wong Kwei Cheong (Kampong Glam GRC), 55 since 1980 Lau Ping Sum (Ang Mo Kio GRC), 55 since 1980 Zulkifi Mohammad (Jalan Besar GRC), 48 since 1984 Arthur Beng (Bedok GRC), 47 since 1984 Peter Sung (Buona Vista), 56 since 1988 Umar Abdul Hamid |
Zainul Abidin bin Mohammed Rasheed , 48
|
Results
The voter turnout in contested constituencies at 95.91% is Singapore's highest election turnout in history. Only two candidates (Tan Soo Phuan and Syed Farid Wajidi) had their election deposit forfeited. This is the last general election to date to see a four-cornered contest in one of the constituencies contested (not counting the 2011 Singaporean presidential election or the 2013 Punggol East by-election, which were also four-cornered contests).
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---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
People's Action Party | 465,751 | 64.98 | 81 | +4 | |
Workers' Party | 101,544 | 14.17 | 1 | 0 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | 76,129 | 10.62 | 0 | –3 | |
National Solidarity Party | 48,322 | 6.74 | 0 | 0 | |
Singapore People's Party | 16,746 | 2.34 | 1 | New | |
Democratic Progressive Party | 5,043 | 0.70 | 0 | New | |
Independents | 3,210 | 0.45 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 716,745 | 100.00 | 83 | +2 | |
Valid votes | 716,745 | 97.65 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 17,255 | 2.35 | |||
Total votes | 734,000 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 765,332 | 95.91 | |||
Source: Singapore Elections[a] |
By constituency
Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Party | Candidates | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aljunied GRC
|
5 | 103,466 | People's Action Party | Ker Sin Tze David Lim Sidek Saniff Toh See Kiat George Yeo |
64,299 | 67.02 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | Aziz Ibrahim Kwan Yue Keng S. Kunalen Tay Hoon Wong Hong Toy |
31,645 | 32.98 | ||||
Ang Mo Kio GRC
|
5 | 125,344 | People's Action Party | Lee Hsien Loong Seng Han Thong Inderjit Singh Tan Boon Wan Tang Guan Seng |
Uncontested | ||
Ayer Rajah SMC
|
1 | 22,025 | People's Action Party | Tan Cheng Bock | 15,081 | 73.17 | |
Singapore People's Party | Sin Kek Tong | 5,531 | 26.83 | ||||
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
|
5 | 122,256 | People's Action Party | Ho Tat Kin Ibrahim Othman Leong Horn Kee Davinder Singh Wong Kan Seng |
Uncontested | ||
Boon Lay SMC
|
1 | 20,014 | People's Action Party | Goh Chee Wee | 12,407 | 66.10 | |
National Solidarity Party | Christopher Neo | 6,362 | 33.90 | ||||
Bukit Gombak SMC
|
1 | 24,909 | People's Action Party | Ang Mong Seng | 15,229 | 65.14 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | Ling How Doong | 6,643 | 28.42 | ||||
Singapore People's Party | Syed Farid Wajidi | 1,506 | 6.44 | ||||
Bukit Timah GRC
|
5 | 118,248 | People's Action Party | R. Ravindran Wang Kai Yuen |
Uncontested | ||
Cheng San GRC
|
5 | 103,323 | People's Action Party | Heng Chiang Meng Lee Yock Suan Michael Lim Yeo Guat Kwang Zainul Abidin Rasheed |
53,553 | 54.82 | |
Workers' Party | Abdul Rahim Bin Osman Huang Seow Kwang J. B. Jeyaretnam[b] Tan Bin Seng Tang Liang Hong |
44,132 | 45.18 | ||||
Chua Chu Kang SMC
|
1 | 24,074 | People's Action Party | Low Seow Chay | 14,141 | 61.92 | |
National Solidarity Party | Yip Yew Weng | 5,040 | 22.07 | ||||
Independent | Chia Shi Teck | 3,210 | 14.06 | ||||
Democratic Progressive Party | Tan Soo Phuan | 445 | 1.95 | ||||
East Coast GRC
|
6 | 142,201 | People's Action Party | Abdullah Tarmugi Chan Soo Sen Chew Heng Ching Chng Hee Kok S. Jayakumar Tan Soo Khoon |
Uncontested | ||
Hong Kah GRC
|
5 | 125,452 | People's Action Party | John Chen Kenneth Chen Peter Chen Min Liang Harun Abdul Ghani Yeo Cheow Tong |
82,182 | 69.00 | |
National Solidarity Party | Steve Chia Patrick Kee Tan Chee Kien Wong Wee Nam Yadzeth Bin Hairis |
36,920 | 31.00 | ||||
Hougang SMC
|
1 | 24,423 | Workers' Party | Low Thia Khiang | 13,458 | 58.02 | |
People's Action Party | Heng Chee How | 9,736 | 41.98 | ||||
Jalan Besar GRC
|
4 | 71,922 | People's Action Party | Choo Wee Khiang Lee Boon Yang Peh Chin Hua Yaacob Ibrahim |
44,840 | 67.55 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | David Chew Gandhi Ambalam Jufrie Mahmood Low Yong Nguan |
21,537 | 32.45 | ||||
Kampong Glam SMC
|
1 | 20,044 | People's Action Party | Loh Meng See | 13,446 | 74.52 | |
Democratic Progressive Party | Tan Lead Shake | 4,598 | 25.48 | ||||
Kreta Ayer-Tanglin GRC
|
4 | 75,126 | People's Action Party | Richard Hu Lew Syn Pau Lily Neo R. Sinnakaruppan |
Uncontested | ||
MacPherson SMC
|
1 | 20,734 | People's Action Party | Matthias Yao | 12,546 | 65.14 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | Chee Soon Juan | 6,713 | 34.86 | ||||
Marine Parade GRC
|
6 | 142,106 | People's Action Party | Goh Chok Tong Goh Choon Kang Lim Hwee Hua Mohamad Maidin B P M Othman Haron Eusofe Eugene Yap |
Uncontested | ||
Nee Soon Central SMC
|
1 | 26,257 | People's Action Party | Ong Ah Heng | 15,214 | 61.33 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | Cheo Chai Chen | 9,591 | 38.67 | ||||
Pasir Ris GRC
|
4 | 85,908 | People's Action Party | Ahmad Mohamed Magad Charles Chong Ong Kian Min Teo Chee Hean |
56,907 | 70.86 | |
Workers' Party | A. Balakrishnan A. Rahim Lim Chiu Liang Sim Say Chuan |
23,404 | 29.14 | ||||
Potong Pasir SMC
|
1 | 18,759 | Singapore People's Party | Chiam See Tong | 9,709 | 55.15 | |
People's Action Party | Gan Lai Chiang | 7,895 | 44.85 | ||||
Sembawang GRC
|
6 | 154,402 | People's Action Party | Chin Tet Yung Hawazi Daipi Ho Peng Kee K. Shanmugam Tony Tan Teo Ho Pin |
Uncontested | ||
Tampines GRC
|
4 | 94,476 | People's Action Party | Aline Wong Mah Bow Tan Sin Boon Ann Yatiman Yusof |
Uncontested | ||
Tanjong Pagar GRC
|
6 | 141,520 | People's Action Party | Chay Wai Chuen Koo Tsai Kee Lee Kuan Yew Lim Swee Say Ow Chin Hock S. Vasoo |
Uncontested | ||
West Coast GRC
|
4 | 74,022 | People's Action Party | Bernard Chen Lim Hng Kiang S. Iswaran Wan Soon Bee |
48,275 | 70.14 | |
Workers' Party | Mike Chan Anthony D'Cruz John Gan Ng Teck Siong |
20,550 | 29.86 | ||||
Source: ELD |
Aftermath
With the
With the election of two opposition MPs (SPP's Chiam and WP's assistant secretary-general
In June 1997, when Nominated MPs were re-appointed, the number was increased from six to nine. On 6 September 1999, the 9th Parliament was relocated to the New Parliament House located within the Civic District facing North Bridge Road, while the former Parliament House was closed until it reopened on 26 March 2004, in which it was renamed to The Arts House.
Tang Liang Hong's self-imposed exile
After the election, WP candidate for Cheng San Group Representation Constituency, Tang Liang Hong was sued for defamation by several of the PAP's leaders, including then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then-Deputy Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Tony Tan, who accused him of making statements during the campaign which falsely questioned their integrity.[1] A total of 13 judgements were entered against Tang for defamation.[2]
Tang left Singapore shortly after the election and eventually found refuge in Australia.[citation needed]
Notes
References
- ^ "Tony Tan also suing Tang for defaming him in report". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 25 January 1997. p. 1. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
The suits over Mr Tang's police report are separate from the three defamation actions by PM Goh, SM Lee, and six other PAP members for his comment that they had concocted lies against him.
- ^ "Tang's case". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 9 March 1997. p. 4. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
13 defamation suits filed against him by 11 People's Action Party
External links
- Official elections webpage – Elections Department Singapore
- Singapore-elections – a comprehensive archive of elections results, as well as past ones
Official websites of political parties
- National Solidarity Party Archived 9 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- People's Action Party, Manifesto (PDF)
- Singapore Malay National Organisation, (Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura)
- Singapore Democratic Party, Manifesto
- Singapore People's Party, Manifesto
- Workers' Party of Singapore, Manifesto 2006