Section 1: Rise of PAP

Question 1

list three reasons for rise of pap

Answer 1

1. LF loss of support
2. larger electorate
3. 6 election promises

Question 2

why did the labourfront lose support? provide examples

LABOURFRONT LOSS OF SUPPORT

Answer 2

due to Labour Front’s harsh measures imposed, they alienated the vast majority of the Chinese population, who were the main electorate, causing a major loss in support.
* used harsh measures, arrested credible leaders of the PAP LCS and FSS

Question 3

with this knowledge, what did LKY do?

LABOURFRONT LOSS OF SUPPORT

Answer 3

PAP was aware that the largest proportion of the electorate were Chinese, the PAP knew their appeal as the English educated elite was limited

Since the communist leaders were extremely popular among the Chinese and LKY knew that he could not gain the support of the masses alone, he promised to release them in exchange for the Chinese population’s votes.

Hence, the Chinese population voted for LKY, giving him the ability to win the 1959 elections and become the Prime Minister with PAP as the government.

Question 4

key point

LABOURFRONT LOSS OF SUPPORT

Answer 4

Key point: Aware that the largest proportion of the electorate were Chinese, LKY knew their appeal as the English-educated elite was limited. Hence they were brought into the ranks of leftists who were popular among the Chinese.

Question 5

why was there more chinese voters?

LARGER ELECTORATE

Answer 5

CITIZENSHIP ORDINANCE (1957)
* those with immigrant status now gained citizenship
* enabled 320,000 more residents to become Singapore citizens (220,000 are Chinese) and gave them the right to vote in elections
* together with Singapore’s 75% original Chinese population, with the addition of all these foreigners, the percentage of Chinese rose significantly and formed the largest proportion of the electorate

Question 6

why was there a larger electorate base?

LARGER ELECTORATE

Answer 6

AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION AND COMPULSORY VOTING
* over 500,000 turning to vote (92.9% higher)

Question 7

IMPLICATION

LARGER ELECTORATE

Answer 7

the introduction of these included a larger proportion of Chinese-educated and lower-income voters, meaning that the party that was most effective in mass appeal to the Chinese-educated and lower-income voters would win, giving PAP a clear idea of what demographic to direct their election promises to.

Question 8

list the six election promises

PAP ELECTION PROMISES

Answer 8

1. independence through merger with Malaya
2. promote industrial development and set up an Economic Development Board
3. to build more schools
4. to build a strong and united trade union movement
5. to carry out a low-cost housing programme
6. to raise the status of women and introduce a Women’s Charter

comprehensive plan with clear strategy to achieve major improvements for

Question 9

results of the 1959 election

Answer 9

PAP: 43/51 seats contested (landslide victory)
LF: 4/39 seats contested