1988 Singaporean general election
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81 seats (plus 2 NCMPs) to the Parliament of Singapore. Only 50 seats contested; 41 seats needed for a majority. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 94.7% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by constituency | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Singapore portal
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General elections were held in Singapore on 3 September 1988. President Wee Kim Wee dissolved parliament on 17 August 1988 on the advice of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 80 of the 81 seats.
Overview[]
Group Representation Constituencies were introduced in this general election to ensure ethnic minority representation in Parliament, starting with three joint constituencies. This was the last time Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew led the PAP in an election and another two stalwarts, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye and Senior Minister S. Rajaratnam, retired for the PAP's renewal process.
This was also the first election where changes to electoral boundaries were approved by the Prime Minister's Office instead of tabling a bill in Parliament to approve changes.[1]
Two seats were vacated in 1986 but neither held its by-elections - Workers' Party (WP) Member of Parliament and leader J. B. Jeyaretnam (of Anson) and PAP incumbent Teh Cheang Wan (of Geylang West), vacated its seats due to conviction over falsified party accounts, and suicide over investigations for corruption, respectively. WP absorbed the two parties, Barisan Sosialis (BS) and Singapore United Front to become the largest opposition party and also allied with the Malay party PKMS as one faction. The election also saw the debut of WP candidate Low Thia Khiang in Tiong Bahru Group Representation Constituency. While Low failed to capture a seat on his first outing, he would later go on to win Hougang Single Member Constituency in the next election and become the party's secretary-general as well as one of the longest-serving opposition leaders until 2020.
With the Singapore Democratic Party leader's Chiam See Tong sole victory in the seat of Potong Pasir, two Non-Constituency MP seats were offered to former solicitor-general and Law Society president, Francis Seow and veteran politician Dr Lee Siew Choh, both of which were standing under the WP ticket in Eunos Group Representation Constituency; their campaign was notable for criticizing PAP for alleged dubious financial circumstances; in response Minister of State Tay Eng Soon went to lead their PAP team for Eunos. Despite losing by a narrow margin of 49.1%-50.9%, WP were eligible for the NCMP; however, Seow fled the country on 17 December to avoid arrest and was disqualified from the post while Lee took up the offer and became Singapore's first NCMP, marking Lee's return to Parliament after 25 years since his last stint as a PAP and BS legislator. Once again, there was a significant increase of election deposit.
In November 1990, two years after the election, the Nominated MP scheme was implemented to introduce non-partisan voices into the legislature. Although the law allowed up to six NMPs, two were appointed at the start and served for a year before the Parliament term ended.
Timeline[]
Date | Event |
---|---|
14 June | Publication of Electoral Boundaries report |
17 August | Dissolution of 6th Parliament |
24 August | Nomination Day |
3 September | Polling Day |
16 September[2] | Non-constituency Member of Parliament posts declared |
9 January 1989 | Opening of 7th Parliament |
Electoral boundaries[]
1988 was the first election in Singapore's history to introduce the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) scheme, which were formed with series of three (later elections increases up to six) constituencies/divisions with at least one minority member representing to ensure ethnic minority representation in Parliament, thus cumulating the effects with Plurality-at-large voting. Additionally, single member constituencies (SMC) were either formed from or absorbed to neighboring constituencies due to development and electorate, which was shown in the table below:
Constituency | Changes |
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Formation of Group Representation Constituencies | |
Aljunied GRC | Formed from Aljunied, Kampong Kembangan and Kampong Ubi SMCs |
Bedok GRC | Formed from Bedok, Kampong Chai Chee and Tanah Merah SMCs |
Brickworks GRC | Formed from Alexandra, Brickworks and Queenstown SMCs |
Cheng San GRC | Formed from Cheng San, Chong Boon and Jalan Kayu SMCs |
Eunos GRC | Formed from Eunos, Kaki Bukit and a portion of Tampines SMCs (the latter was renamed to Tampines North) |
Hong Kah GRC | Formed from parts of Bukit Batok (Hong Kah North), Hong Kah (Hong Kah Central) and Yuhua SMCs (Hong Kah South) |
Jalan Besar GRC | Formed from Geylang West, Jalan Besar and Kolam Ayer SMCs. |
Marine Parade GRC | Formed from Geylang Serai, Joo Chiat and Marine Parade SMCs. |
Pasir Panjang GRC | Formed from Clementi, Pasir Panjang and West Coast SMCs. |
Sembawang GRC | Formed from parts of Nee Soon (Chong Pang and Nee Soon East) and most of Sembawang SMCs Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon South were subsumed into its own SMCs |
Tampines GRC | Formed from Changkat SMC and Tampines SMC (the latter was divided into Tampines Changkat, Tampines East and Tampines West) |
Tiong Bahru GRC | Formed from Delta, Henderson, Tiong Bahru and Radin Mas SMCs; Delta was absorbed into Tiong Bahru division. |
Toa Payoh GRC | Formed from Boon Teck, Khe Bong, Kuo Chuan and Toa Payoh SMCs; Khe Bong was absorbed into Boon Teck division. |
New Single Member Constituencies | |
Bukit Gombak SMC | Carved out from Bukit Batok SMC |
Hougang SMC | Carved out from Punggol SMC |
Nee Soon Central SMC Nee Soon East SMC |
Carved out from Nee Soon SMC |
Defunct Single Member Constituencies | |
Anson SMC | Absorbed to Tanjong Pagar SMC |
Bo Wen SMC | Absorbed to Ang Mo Kio SMC |
River Valley SMC | Absorbed to Cairnhill SMC |
Rochore SMC | Absorbed to Kampong Glam SMC |
Telok Ayer SMC | Absorbed to Kreta Ayer SMC |
New candidates[]
- Chay Wai Chuen
- Charles Chong
- Choo Wee Khiang
- George Yeo Yong Boon
- K Shanmugam
- Lew Syn Pau
- Ong Chit Chung
- Peh Chin Hua
- Seet Ai Mee
Retiring candidates[]
Candidate | Age | Constituency | Since | Replacement |
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61 | Buona Vista | 1972 | Peter Sung | |
53 | Bukit Batok | 1972 | Ong Chit Chung | |
E.W. Barker | 68 | Tanglin | 1959 | Lew Syn Pau |
58 | Toa Payoh | 1968 | Davinder Singh | |
50 | Kampong Chai Chee | 1963 | Hong Hai | |
Jek Yeun Thong | 58 | Queenstown | 1968 | Chay Wai Chuen |
52 | Henderson | 1972 | S Vasoo | |
Ong Pang Boon | 58 | Telok Ayer | 1959 | Merged into Kreta Ayer |
Phua Bah Lee | 56 | Tampines | 1968 | Split into three different wards |
S. Rajaratnam | 73 | Kampong Glam | 1959 | Loh Meng See |
56 | Chua Chu Kang | 1966 | Low Seow Chay | |
Toh Chin Chye | 68 | Rochor | 1959 | Merged into Kampong Glam |
52 | Delta | 1970 | Merged into Kim Seng |
Results[]
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
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People's Action Party | 848,029 | 63.17 | 80 | +3 | |
Workers' Party | 224,473 | 16.72 | 0 | –1 | |
Singapore Democratic Party | 158,341 | 11.80 | 1 | 0 | |
National Solidarity Party | 50,432 | 3.76 | 0 | New | |
United People's Front | 17,282 | 1.29 | 0 | 0 | |
Singapore Justice Party | 14,660 | 1.09 | 0 | 0 | |
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura | 13,526 | 1.01 | 0 | 0 | |
Angkatan Islam | 280 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | |
Independents | 15,412 | 1.15 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 1,342,435 | 100.00 | 81 | +2 | |
Valid votes | 1,342,435 | 97.77 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 30,629 | 2.23 | |||
Total votes | 1,373,064 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 1,669,013 | 82.27 | |||
Source: Singapore Elections[a] |
By constituency[]
Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Party | Candidates | Votes | % |
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Aljunied GRC | 3 | 65,351 | People's Action Party | Chin Harn Tong George Yeo |
34,020 | 56.33 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | Mohamed Jufrie B Mahmood |
26,375 | 43.67 / 100
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Ang Mo Kio SMC | 1 | 14,633 | People's Action Party | 13,365 | 65.49 / 100
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National Solidarity Party | 7,044 | 27.25 / 100
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Ayer Rajah SMC | 1 | 22,532 | People's Action Party | Tan Cheng Bock | 14,824 | 69.55 / 100
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Workers' Party | 6,489 | 30.45 / 100
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Bedok GRC | 3 | 54,969 | People's Action Party | S. Jayakumar |
28,266 | 54.92 / 100
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Workers' Party | 23,203 | 45.08 / 100
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Boon Lay SMC | 1 | 16,646 | People's Action Party | 11,317 | 71.97 / 100
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Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura | 4,408 | 28.03 / 100
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Braddell Heights SMC | 1 | 27,019 | People's Action Party | 14,862 | 58.80 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | Sin Kek Tong | 10,412 | 41.20 / 100
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Brickworks GRC | 3 | 43,117 | People's Action Party | Ahmad Mattar Chay Wai Chuen Tan Soo Khoon |
26,870 | 67.43 / 100
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Workers' Party | Ismail Yaacob |
12,977 | 32.57 / 100
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Bukit Batok SMC | 1 | 24,138 | People's Action Party | Ong Chit Chung | 12,873 | 55.94 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 10,139 | 44.06 / 100
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Bukit Gombak SMC | 1 | 25,221 | People's Action Party | Seet Ai Mee | 12,661 | 53.46 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | Ling How Doong | 11,024 | 46.54 / 100
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Bukit Merah SMC | 1 | 14,723 | People's Action Party | 9,414 | 69.78 / 100
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Workers' Party | 4,077 | 30.22 / 100
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Bukit Panjang SMC | 1 | 33,824 | People's Action Party | 18,314 | 57.28 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 9,864 | 30.86 / 100
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Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura | (Loses $4,000 deposit) | 3,790 | 11.86 / 100
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Bukit Timah SMC | 1 | 20,222 | People's Action Party | Uncontested walkover | ||
Buona Vista SMC | 1 | 15,850 | People's Action Party | 8,859 | 61.76 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 5,037 | 35.11 / 100
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Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura | (Loses $4,000 deposit) | 449 | 3.13 / 100
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Cairnhill SMC | 1 | 23,197 | People's Action Party | 12,779 | 63.98 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 7,194 | 36.02 / 100
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Changi SMC | 1 | 17,145 | People's Action Party | 9,398 | 59.37 / 100
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Workers' Party | 6,431 | 40.63 / 100
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Cheng San GRC | 3 | 56,352 | People's Action Party | Lee Yock Suan |
Uncontested walkover | |
Chua Chu Kang SMC | 1 | 19,628 | People's Action Party | 11,058 | 59.28 / 100
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Workers' Party | 7,597 | 40.72 / 100
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Eunos GRC | 3 | 75,723 | People's Action Party | Tay Eng Soon Zulkifli Mohammed |
36,500 | 50.89 / 100
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Workers' Party | Lee Siew Choh[b] Francis Seow[c] |
35,221 | 49.11 / 100
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Fengshan SMC | 1 | 17,389 | People's Action Party | 9,507 | 57.92 / 100
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Workers' Party | 6,907 | 42.08 / 100
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Hong Kah GRC | 3 | 67,431 | People's Action Party | Yeo Cheow Tong |
Uncontested walkover | |
Hougang SMC | 1 | 21,703 | People's Action Party | Tang Guan Seng | 11,983 | 58.96 / 100
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Workers' Party | 8,342 | 41.04 / 100
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Jalan Besar GRC | 3 | 54,941 | People's Action Party | Lee Boon Yang Peh Chin Hua Sidek Bin Saniff |
31,604 | 62.68 / 100
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Workers' Party | 18,814 | 37.32 / 100
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Jurong SMC | 1 | 21,420 | People's Action Party | Ho Kah Leong | 14,769 | 75.17 / 100
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Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura | 4,879 | 24.83 / 100
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Kallang SMC | 1 | 21,245 | People's Action Party | S. Dhanabalan | 13,097 | 66.13 / 100
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Workers' Party | 6,707 | 33.87 / 100
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Kampong Glam SMC | 1 | 21,773 | People's Action Party | 12,525 | 67.32 / 100
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Workers' Party | 5,800 | 31.87 / 100
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(Loses $4,000 deposit) | 280 | 1.51 / 100
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Kebun Baru SMC | 1 | 22,515 | People's Action Party | Lim Boon Heng | 15,734 | 75.36 / 100
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National Solidarity Party | 5,145 | 24.64 / 100
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Kim Keat SMC | 1 | 15,850 | People's Action Party | Ong Teng Cheong | 10,644 | 73.00 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 3,937 | 27.00 / 100
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Kim Seng SMC | 1 | 18,474 | People's Action Party | Yeo Ning Hong | 11,460 | 66.90 / 100
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Workers' Party | 5,670 | 33.10 / 100
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Kreta Ayer SMC | 1 | 21,470 | People's Action Party | Hu Tsu Tau Richard | 13,158 | 70.50 / 100
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Workers' Party | 5,507 | 29.50 / 100
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Leng Kee SMC | 1 | 21,964 | People's Action Party | 13,334 | 64.96 / 100
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Workers' Party | 7,192 | 35.04 / 100
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MacPherson SMC | 1 | 17,063 | People's Action Party | Chua Sian Chin | 10,453 | 65.98 / 100
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National Solidarity Party | 5,390 | 34.02 / 100
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Marine Parade GRC | 3 | 62,385 | People's Action Party | Choo Wee Khiang Goh Chok Tong |
41,325 | 73.81 / 100
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Singapore Justice Party | 14,660 | 26.19 / 100
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Moulmein SMC | 1 | 19,229 | People's Action Party | 11,334 | 66.08 / 100
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Workers' Party | 5,817 | 33.92 / 100
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Mountbatten SMC | 1 | 17,747 | People's Action Party | 12,712 | 78.15 / 100
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Independent | 3,554 | 21.85 / 100
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Nee Soon Central SMC | 1 | 24,403 | People's Action Party | Ng Pock Too | 13,396 | 57.61 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | Cheo Chai Chen | 8,944 | 38.46 / 100
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United People's Front | (Loses $4,000 deposit) | 914 | 3.93 / 100
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Nee Soon South SMC | 1 | 22,542 | People's Action Party | 13,793 | 64.88 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 6,533 | 30.73 / 100
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United People's Front | (Loses $4,000 deposit) | 932 | 4.39 / 100
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Pasir Panjang GRC | 3 | 66,600 | People's Action Party | Abbas Abu Amin Wan Soon Bee |
38,545 | 61.57 / 100
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Workers' Party | 24,059 | 38.43 / 100
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Paya Lebar SMC | 1 | 25,076 | People's Action Party | 12,352 | 52.36 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 11,240 | 47.64 / 100
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Potong Pasir SMC | 1 | 19,852 | Singapore Democratic Party | Chiam See Tong | 11,804 | 63.13 / 100
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People's Action Party | 6,893 | 36.87 / 100
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Punggol SMC | 1 | 31,577 | People's Action Party | 17,914 | 59.85 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 12,017 | 40.15 / 100
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Sembawang GRC | 3 | 55,633 | People's Action Party | Chong You Fook Charles K Shanmugam Tony Tan Keng Yam |
36,154 | 70.08 / 100
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United People's Front | Harbans Singh |
15,436 | 29.92 / 100
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Serangoon Gardens SMC | 1 | 24,831 | People's Action Party | 16,234 | 74.17 / 100
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Independent | 5,654 | 25.83 / 100
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Siglap SMC | 1 | 18,650 | People's Action Party | Abdullah bin Tarmugi | 12,101 | 73.73 / 100
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Workers' Party | 4,311 | 26.27 / 100
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Tampines GRC | 3 | 65,148 | People's Action Party | Mah Bow Tan Aline Wong |
37,216 | 61.00 / 100
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National Solidarity Party | 23,796 | 39.00 / 100
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Tanglin SMC | 1 | 17,497 | People's Action Party | Lew Syn Pau | Uncontested walkover | |
Tanjong Pagar SMC | 1 | 19,041 | People's Action Party | Lee Kuan Yew | 14,043 | 81.60 / 100
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Independent | 3,167 | 18.40 / 100
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Teck Ghee SMC | 1 | 15,510 | People's Action Party | Lee Hsien Loong | 11,512 | 79.13 / 100
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Independent | 3,037 | 20.87 / 100
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Telok Blangah SMC | 1 | 18,609 | People's Action Party | 11,160 | 64.21 / 100
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Workers' Party | 6,220 | 35.79 / 100
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Thomson SMC | 1 | 34,886 | People's Action Party | 21,514 | 67.01 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 10,590 | 32.99 / 100
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Tiong Bahru GRC | 3 | 58,898 | People's Action Party | Chng Hee Kok |
31,732 | 57.84 / 100
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Workers' Party | Low Thia Khiang |
23,132 | 42.16 / 100
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Toa Payoh GRC | 3 | 49,243 | People's Action Party | Davinder Singh Wong Kan Seng |
Uncontested walkover | |
Ulu Pandan SMC | 1 | 23,587 | People's Action Party | 14,436 | 69.07 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 6,466 | 30.93 / 100
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Whampoa SMC | 1 | 13,819 | People's Action Party | 7,522 | 59.47 / 100
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National Solidarity Party | 5,126 | 40.53 / 100
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Yio Chu Kang SMC | 1 | 15,991 | People's Action Party | 10,996 | 73.67 / 100
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National Solidarity Party | 3,931 | 26.33 / 100
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Yuhua SMC | 1 | 19,190 | People's Action Party | Foo Yee Shoon | 11,497 | 62.96 / 100
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Singapore Democratic Party | 6,765 | 37.04 / 100
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Source: ELD |
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ Singapore Elections. "PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION 1988". Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ National Library Board. "Francis Seow and Siew Choh made non-constituency MPs". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- 1988 elections in Asia
- General elections in Singapore
- 1988 in Singapore