1980 Singaporean general election
Elections to the 5th Parliament of Singapore
General elections were held in Singapore on 23 December 1980. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party , which won all 75 seats, the last of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat. Voter turnout was 95%, although this figure represents the turnout in the 38 constituencies to be contested,[ 1] with PAP candidates earning walkovers in the other 37. 685,141 voters out of the total electorate of 1,290,426 went to vote on the elections.
Background
Prior to this election, a series of by-elections were held in 1977 and 1979 after two and seven MPs, respectively, were vacated; however, the ruling PAP won every seat, allowing nine new candidates, which include Devan Nair and Tony Tan (both would later go on to become Presidents of Singapore ) to enter Parliament. During the election, PAP also introduced a few other prominent members, such as future ministers Lee Yock Suan and S. Jayakumar , as well as a backbencher (and later Progress Singapore Party secretary-general and a 2011 presidential candidate ) Tan Cheng Bock .
On 2 April the following year, then-President of National Trades Union Congress , Phey Yew Kok , resigned his Boon Teck seat after Phey was initially charged from a funding fraud of trade union funds, and left Singapore to avoid a bail; however, Lee chose not to call a by-election in his place since the current Parliament term was due to end.
Timeline
Date
Event
5 December
Dissolution of 4th Parliament
13 December
Nomination Day
23 December
Polling Day
3 February 1981
Opening of 5th Parliament
Campaign
The school streaming system , as well as Phey's fraud, became highlights of the campaign for the election.
Independent candidate Chiam See Tong , who made his political debut in the previous election, founded Singapore Democratic Party on 8 September, and would later go on to win Potong Pasir Constituency on the 1984 election on his third attempt (his first attempt was in the by-election last year ) after the retirement of incumbent and cabinet minister Howe Yoon Chong .
A total of 43 opposition candidates went on to contest in 38 constituencies, which was nearly half of the total, with United People's Front representing the most number of candidates at 14. This was the first election (of the only three in history, with the other being 2006 and 2011 ) none of the candidates ran as Independents.
Constituencies
Similar to previous elections, constituencies were either dissolved or created due to population. The constituencies which saw changes were:[ 2] [ 3]
Results
Party Votes % +/– Seats +/– People's Action Party 494,268 77.66 +3.57 75 +6 Workers' Party 39,590 6.22 –5.33 0 0 United People's Front 28,586 4.49 +2.70 0 0 Singapore United Front 27,522 4.32 –2.38 0 0 Barisan Sosialis 16,488 2.59 –0.60 0 0 Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura 13,435 2.11 +0.95 0 0 Singapore Democratic Party 11,292 1.77 New 0 New Singapore Justice Party 5,271 0.83 +0.18 0 0 Total 636,452 100.00 – 75 +6 Valid votes 636,452 97.27 Invalid/blank votes 17,843 2.73 Total votes 654,295 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 1,290,426 95.50 Source: Nohlen et al. , Singapore Elections [ a]
By constituency
Constituency
Electorate
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Alexandra
18,163
People's Action Party
Tan Soo Khoon
Unopposed
Aljunied
17,017
People's Action Party
Chin Harn Tong
13,313
84.59
United Front
Sim Peng Kim
2,425
15.41
Ang Mo Kio
22,542
People's Action Party
Yeo Toon Chia
17,436
81.99
United People's Front
Ang Bee Lian
3,830
18.01
Anson
15,077
People's Action Party
Devan Nair
11,564
84.10
United People's Front
John Santhirasekaran P. M. Thevar
2,187
15.90
Ayer Rajah
15,787
People's Action Party
Tan Cheng Bock
12,400
83.39
Singapore Justice Party
Suib bin Abdul Rahman
2,470
16.61
Bedok
20,852
People's Action Party
S. Jayakumar
14,691
75.03
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura
Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Zin
3,527
18.01
United People's Front
Thomas Anthony Tay
1,362
6.96
Boon Lay
21,317
People's Action Party
Goh Chee Wee
15,005
74.19
United Front
Tan Chee Kien
5,220
25.81
Boon Teck
18,705
People's Action Party
Liew Kok Pun
11,917
68.14
Barisan Sosialis
Lee Siew Choh
5,571
31.86
Braddell Heights
14,519
People's Action Party
Lee Khoon Choy
Unopposed
Brickworks
13,054
People's Action Party
Ahmad Mattar
Unopposed
Bukit Batok
18,275
People's Action Party
Chai Chong Yii
Unopposed
Bukit Ho Swee
12,435
People's Action Party
Seah Mui Kok
Unopposed
Bukit Merah
19,046
People's Action Party
Lim Chee Onn
Unopposed
Bukit Panjang
23,305
People's Action Party
Lee Yiok Seng
18,510
87.03
United People's Front
Mohamed Sani bin Ahmad
2,759
12.97
Bukit Timah
15,334
People's Action Party
Chor Yeok Eng
Unopposed
Buona Vista
17,287
People's Action Party
Ang Kok Peng
Unopposed
Cairnhill
18,133
People's Action Party
Wong Kwei Cheong
11,444
71.79
Singapore Democratic Party
Fok Tai Loy
4,498
28.21
Changi
25,464
People's Action Party
Teo Chong Tee
Unopposed
Cheng San
17,044
People's Action Party
Lee Yock Suan
12,312
75.89
Workers' Party
Choong Chee Kwong
3,911
24.11
Chong Boon
13,877
People's Action Party
Rajagopal Sitaram Chandra Das
Unopposed
Chua Chu Kang
22,363
People's Action Party
Tang See Chim
Unopposed
Clementi
15,129
People's Action Party
Bernard Chen Tien Lap
12,162
85.42
United People's Front
Singh Munjeet
2,076
14.58
Delta
14,830
People's Action Party
Yeo Choo Kok
Unopposed
Geylang Serai
19,962
People's Action Party
Othman bin Haron Eusofe
13,195
71.99
United Front
Seow Khee Leng
5,134
28.01
Geylang West
22,298
People's Action Party
Teh Cheang Wan
17,585
85.45
United People's Front
Long bin Abdullah
2,994
14.55
Havelock
12,524
People's Action Party
Hon Sui Sen
Unopposed
Henderson
18,353
People's Action Party
Lai Tha Chai
13,363
77.42
Workers' Party
Lim Kang Chew
3,897
22.58
Jalan Besar
15,058
People's Action Party
Chan Chee Seng
Unopposed
Jalan Kayu
23,766
People's Action Party
Hwang Soo Jin
15,275
69.02
Workers' Party
Madai Puthan Damodaran Nair
6,855
30.98
Joo Chiat
12,805
People's Action Party
Yeoh Ghim Seng
8,542
74.18
Singapore Democratic Party
Soon Kia Seng
2,973
25.82
Jurong
18,658
People's Action Party
Ho Kah Leong
Unopposed
Kaki Bukit
21,318
People's Action Party
Saidi Shariff
14,550
72.32
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura
Ibrahim bin Ariff
4,072
20.24
United People's Front
Atim bin Ismail
1,496
7.44
Kallang
16,222
People's Action Party
S. Dhanabalan
Unopposed
Kampong Chai Chee
20,237
People's Action Party
Andrew Fong Sip Chee
15,421
81.22
United Front
Leong Yew Thong
3,565
18.78
Kampong Glam
17,241
People's Action Party
S. Rajaratnam
Unopposed
Kampong Kembangan
15,854
People's Action Party
Mohd Mansor bin Sukaimi
11,194
78.74
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura
Jamal bin Idris
3,023
21.26
Kampong Ubi
16,250
People's Action Party
Wan Hussin bin Zoohri
11,102
73.87
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura
Sahid bin Sahooman
2,813
18.72
United People's Front
Shaikh Ahmad bin Shaikh Salim
1,113
7.41
Katong
12,041
People's Action Party
Joseph Francis De Conceicao
Unopposed
Kebun Baru
17,709
People's Action Party
Lim Boon Heng
13,632
82.83
United Front
Lim Tiong Hock
1,883
11.44
United People's Front
Jantan bin Taib
943
5.73
Khe Bong
15,425
People's Action Party
Ho See Beng
10,497
72.42
Barisan Sosialis
Sim Say Chuan
3,998
27.58
Kim Keat
20,781
People's Action Party
Ong Teng Cheong
Unopposed
Kim Seng
14,734
People's Action Party
Yeo Ning Hong
11,109
80.55
Workers' Party
Seow Yong Chew
2,682
19.45
Kolam Ayer
22,775
People's Action Party
Sidek Saniff
16,995
80.35
United Front
Mohamed Mansor bin Abdul Rahman
4,155
19.65
Kreta Ayer
11,973
People's Action Party
Goh Keng Swee
Unopposed
Kuo Chuan
17,471
People's Action Party
Pathmanaban Selvadurai
12,378
75.92
Barisan Sosialis
Sim Chit Giak
3,925
24.08
Leng Kee
15,166
People's Action Party
Ow Chin Hock
Unopposed
MacPherson
18,997
People's Action Party
Chua Sian Chin
15,280
86.89
United People's Front
Darus bin Shariff
2,306
13.11
Marine Parade
21,903
People's Action Party
Goh Chok Tong
Unopposed
Moulmein
16,999
People's Action Party
Sia Khoon Seong
Unopposed
Mountbatten
14,045
People's Action Party
Eugene Yap Giau Cheng
Unopposed
Nee Soon
16,817
People's Action Party
Koh Lip Lin
Unopposed
Pasir Panjang
17,743
People's Action Party
Abbas Abu Amin
11,824
72.57
Workers' Party
Zainul Abidin
4,470
27.43
Paya Lebar
11,666
People's Action Party
Sia Kah Hui
Unopposed
Potong Pasir
10,068
People's Action Party
Howe Yoon Chong
5,509
59.05
Singapore Democratic Party
Chiam See Tong
3,821
40.95
Punggol
23,333
People's Action Party
Ng Kah Ting
17,103
78.86
United Front
Chua Nguan Key
4,585
21.14
Queenstown
17,450
People's Action Party
Jek Yeun Thong
Unopposed
Radin Mas
18,854
People's Action Party
Mohamed Kassim Abdul Jabbar
11,335
64.07
Workers' Party
Wong Hong Toy
6,356
35.93
River Valley
14,950
People's Action Party
Tay Eng Soon
Unopposed
Rochore
14,705
People's Action Party
Toh Chin Chye
Unopposed
Sembawang
17,785
People's Action Party
Tony Tan
13,415
81.55
United People's Front
Harbans Singh
3,035
18.45
Serangoon Gardens
16,973
People's Action Party
Lau Teik Soon
Unopposed
Siglap
16,675
People's Action Party
Abdul Rahim Ishak
11,564
77.91
Workers' Party
Royston George Scharenguivel
3,278
22.09
Tampines
18,982
People's Action Party
Phua Bah Lee
15,065
85.92
United People's Front
Kasim bin Ibrahim
2,469
14.08
Tanah Merah
15,711
People's Action Party
Lee Chiaw Meng
Unopposed
Tanglin
13,332
People's Action Party
Edmund W. Barker
Unopposed
Tanjong Pagar
13,765
People's Action Party
Lee Kuan Yew
11,730
92.74
United Front
Johnny Wee Lai Seng
555
4.39
United People's Front
Lee Mun Hung
363
2.87
Telok Ayer
12,381
People's Action Party
Ong Pang Boon
Unopposed
Telok Blangah
18,314
People's Action Party
Rohan bin Kamis
9,187
53.02
Workers' Party
J. B. Jeyaratnam
8,141
46.98
Thomson
14,786
People's Action Party
Chau Sik Ting
Unopposed
Tiong Bahru
18,077
People's Action Party
Ch'ng Jit Koon
Unopposed
Toa Payoh
13,799
People's Action Party
Eric Cheong Yuen Chee
9,872
76.73
Barisan Sosialis
Ng Ho
2,994
23.27
Ulu Pandan
22,048
People's Action Party
Chiang Hai Ding
Unopposed
West Coast
18,949
People's Action Party
Wan Soon Bee
15,185
84.43
Singapore Justice Party
Muthusamy Ramasamy
2,801
15.57
Whampoa
19,131
People's Action Party
Augustine Tan Hui Heng
Unopposed
Yio Chu Kang
14,012
People's Action Party
Lau Ping Sum
11,607
87.53
United People's Front
Lachhu S. Piaro
1,653
12.47
Source: ELD
Notes
^ 605,285 of the 1,290,426 voters were registered in uncontested constituencies.
References