Malayan general election, 1959

Malaysia

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General elections were held in Malaya on 19 August 1959,^[1] the first since independence from the United Kingdom in 1957. It was the third national-wide election held in Malaya since the end of World War II. Malaya later formed Malaysia with three other states in 1963. Voter turnout was 73.3%.

In the election, the Alliance Party - later Barisan Nasional - emerged as the victor. The party was a coalition formed by United Malays National Organisation, Malayan Chinese Association and Malayan Indian Congress. The coalition won 74 out of 104 seats in the Dewan Rakyat with only 51.7% of total votes. The opposition as a whole garnered 30 seats with 48.3% of total votes.

The 71.1% majority allowed Alliance Party to form a government as sanctioned by the Constitution of Malaya.

When results were announced on the morning of 20 August, only 103 seats were returned as elections in the Kedah Tengah (English: Central Kedah) constituency was delayed until 30 September.^[2] The Alliance proceeded to win this seat with Khir Johari as the winning candidate.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/-
Alliance Party	800,944	51.8	74	+23
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party	329,070	21.3	13	+12
Malayan People's Socialist Front	199,688	12.9	8	New
People's Progressive Party	97,391	6.3	4	+4
Parti Negara	32,578	2.1	1	+1
Malayan Party	13,404	0.9	1	New
Independents	74,194	4.8	3	+3
Invalid/blank votes	17,306	-	-
Total	1,564,575	100	104	+52
Source: Nohlen et al

References

1. ^ Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p152 ISBN 0199249598
2. ^ Arkib Negara: Pembentukan Kabinet Yang Pertama Selepas Merdeka (in Malay)

External links

• Documentary video about the 1959 elections Government of Malaysia (in Malay)