April 1970 Parliamentary By-election

A by-election was held on 18 April 1970 to fill vacancies in parliament caused by the resignations of People's Action Party (PAP) members of parliament (MPs) Chan Choy Siong (Delta), Lim Soo Peng (Havelock), Buang Omar Junid (Whampoa), Lim Cheng Lock (Kampong Kapor) and Lee Teck Him (Ulu Pandan).Lee Kuan Yew, then secretary-general of the PAP, explained in a press statement that the five MPs “agreed to stand down so that the party can bring new talent and experience into parliament”.^[1]  

Nomination day was held on 8 April. On that day, PAP candidates Hon Sui Sen (Havelock), Augustine Tan Hui Heng (Whampoa) and Yeo Choo Kok (Delta) were returned unopposed.^[2] On polling day, PAP candidates Chiang Hai Ding and Yeo Toon Chia were respectively challenged by S. Vetrivelu and Chng Boon Eng, both from the United National Front (UNF).^[3] The PAP emerged victorious with Chiang garnering 9,018 votes against Vetrivelu’s 2,925 in Ulu Pandan, and Yeo securing 5,527 votes against Chng’s 3,330 in Kampong Kapor.^[4]

References
1. Chia, P. (1970, April 1). ‘New blood’ for by-elections as five MPs quit. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Cheong, Y. P., & Ng, V. (1970, April 9). A walk-over for three PAP men. The Straits Times, p. 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Voting for 25,300 in two wards. (1970, April 18). The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Government of Singapore. (2011, October 18). 1970 parliamentary by-election results. Retrieved September 4, 2013, from Singapore Elections Department website: http://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_by1970.html