SINGAPORE ELECTION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 13

SINGAPORE ELECTION

Ong Retains Seat (N Z P. A.-Reuter— Convripht) SINGAPORE, April 29 Ong Eng Guan, a former Minister and now an independent, today easily retained his seat in the Legislative Assembly when he defeated the ruling Peoples’ Action Party candidate in a by-election for the Hong Lim constituency of Singapore.

Ong polled 7747 votes, according to official figures, in a straight fight against his opponent, Mr Jek Yuen Tong, who polled 2820. In the General Election 22 months ago in a .four-cor-

nered contest, Ong had an overwhelming majority of 6198.

Ong, once Minister for National Development and a former Mayor of Singapore, polled 75 per cent, of the total vote, compared with 79 per cent, in the General Election. when he had the whole weight of the party machine behind him. His victory was seen by observers here as a severe blow to the prestige of the P.A.P. and • its leader, Lee Kuan Yew. the Singapore Prime Minister, who made the by-election a test of the people’s confidence in the ruling party. The victory was considered to be a personal triumph for Ong. who was expelled from the P.A.P almost a year ago for challenging the party leadership on “Socialist” principles. He resigned from the Assembly two months ago when a censure motion was brought by the Government after he accused the Prime Minis’er and other leaders of nepotism. The election did not alter the P.AP.’s strong position in the Legislative Assembly, where it holds 40 of the 51 seats.