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1959 Malayan general election

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1959 Malayan general election
← 1955 19 August 1959 1964 →
All 104 seats in the Dewan Rakyat
53 seats needed for a majority
Registered2,133,272
Turnout73.34%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Tunku Abdul Rahman Burhanuddin al-Helmy Ahmad Boestamam
Party Alliance PMIP Socialist Front
Last election 81.68%, 51 seats 4.06%, 1 seat 0.48%, 0 seats
Seats won 74 13 8
Seat change Increase 23 Increase 12 Increase 8
Popular vote 800,944 329,070 199,688
Percentage 51.77% 21.27% 12.91%
Swing Decrease 29.91pp Increase 17.21pp Increase 12.43pp
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  MP
Leader D. R. Seenivasagam Onn Jaafar Tan Kee Gak
Party PPP National Party Malayan Party
Last election 0.11%, 0 seats 7.88%, 0 seats –
Seats won 4 1 1
Seat change Increase 4 Increase 1 New
Popular vote 97,391 32,578 13,404
Percentage 6.29% 2.11% 0.87%
Swing Increase 6.18pp Decrease 5.77pp New
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election

Tunku Abdul Rahman
Alliance

Prime Minister-designate

Tunku Abdul Rahman
Alliance

General elections were held in the Federation of Malaya on Wednesday, 19 August 1959 for members of the first Parliament of the Federation of Malaya,[1] the first parliamentary election in Malaya. 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. Voting took place in all 104 parliamentary constituencies of Malaya, each electing one Member of Parliament to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant house of Parliament. Voter turnout was 73%.

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 52% of the total vote. The opposition as a whole won 30 seats with 48% of the vote.

The 71% 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 (Central Kedah) constituency was delayed until 30 September.[2] The Alliance proceeded to win this seat with Khir Johari as the winning candidate.

Prior to the parliamentary election, state elections took place in all 282 state constituencies in 11 states of Malaya from 20 May to 24 June 1959, each electing one Member to the State Legislative Assembly, the Dewan Undangan Negeri. As a result, PAS took over the administration of Terengganu and Kelantan but served only 2 terms before being retaken by Alliance.

Three Alliance candidates contested unopposed

Timelines

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Dewan Rakyat

[edit]

Source:[3]

  • Nomination date: 15 July 1959
  • Election day: 19 August 1959

State legislative assemblies

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State Nomination Date State election
 Perlis 15 April 1959 20 May 1959
 Kedah 15 April 1959 20 May 1959
 Malacca 18 April 1959 23 May 1959
 Perak 22 April 1959 27 May 1959
 Selangor 25 April 1959 30 May 1959
 Negeri Sembilan 28 April 1959 2 June 1959
 Penang 2 May 1959 6 June 1959
 Johor 6 May 1959 10 June 1959
 Pahang 13 May 1959 27 June 1959
 Terengganu 16 May 1959 20 June 1959
 Kelantan 20 May 1959 24 June 1959

Results

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation552,59535.7152+18
Malayan Chinese Association229,22914.8219+4
Malayan Indian Congress19,1201.243+1
Total800,94451.7774+23
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party329,07021.2713+12
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya146,6089.486+6
Parti Ra'ayat53,0803.432New
Total199,68812.918New
People's Progressive Party97,3916.294+4
Parti Negara32,5782.111+1
Malayan Party13,4040.871New
Independents74,1944.803+3
Total1,547,269100.00104+52
Valid votes1,547,26998.89
Invalid/blank votes17,3061.11
Total votes1,564,575100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,133,27273.34
Source: Nohlen et al.

[1] [2][3][4][5]

[4]

Registered voters above refers to total voters of the contested constituencies. Total electorate for the 1959 elections is 2177755 which includes uncontested parliamentary constituencies of Port Dickson, Johore Tenggara and Kemaman.

Information for the division of voters between Labour Party of Malaya and Parti Ra'ayat is limited

By state

[edit]
Main article: Results of the 1959 Malayan general election by parliamentary constituency

Source:[5]

Johore

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation98,39446.0911+7
Malayan Chinese Association41,82519.595+2
Total140,21965.6816+2
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya25,81012.090–
Parti Ra'ayat4,5012.110–
Total30,31114.200–
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party4,9922.340–
People's Progressive Party2,1621.010–
Parti Negara19,9319.340–
Independent15,8787.440–
Total213,493100.00160
Valid votes213,49398.83
Invalid/blank votes2,5341.17
Total votes216,027100.00
Registered voters/turnout280,24477.09
Source: Tindak Malaysia's Github[6]

The registered voters refers to total voters of the contested constituencies.Total electorate of Johor including uncontested constituency of Johore Tenggara is 291230 voters.

Kedah

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation105,91854.0510+6
Malayan Chinese Association22,04711.2520
Total127,96565.3112+6
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party52,23526.6600
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya7,2353.690New
Parti Ra'ayat6,9073.520New
Total14,1427.220New
Independents1,6050.8200
Total195,947100.0012+6
Valid votes195,94798.75
Invalid/blank votes2,4811.25
Total votes198,428100.00
Registered voters/turnout268,11574.01
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[7]

Kelantan

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party116,08768.389+9
United Malays National Organisation53,38231.451–4
Parti Negara2920.170–4
Total169,761100.0010+5
Valid votes169,76199.16
Invalid/blank votes1,4460.84
Total votes171,207100.00
Registered voters/turnout240,52271.18
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[8]

Malacca

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation22,37829.972+1
Malayan Chinese Association21,80829.2110
Total44,18659.183+1
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party12,13316.250–
Malayan Party9,39612.581New
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya5,8127.780–
Parti Ra'ayat2,8723.850–
Total8,68411.630–
Independent2650.350–
Total74,664100.004+2
Valid votes74,66499.10
Invalid/blank votes6800.90
Total votes75,344100.00
Registered voters/turnout93,73780.38
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[9]

Negeri Sembilan

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation32,16444.273+1
Malayan Indian Congress3,4094.691New
Malayan Chinese Association2,0612.840–1
Total37,63451.804+1
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya7,93410.920–
Total7,93410.920–
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party12,10316.660New
Parti Negara4,3696.010–
Independents10,60714.602+2
Total72,647100.006+3
Valid votes72,64798.97
Invalid/blank votes7561.03
Total votes73,403100.00
Registered voters/turnout95,57376.80
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[10]

Registered voters shown above refers to the total number of voters of contested constituencies. Actual elctorate size of Negeri Sembilan is 111336 voters which includes uncontesed constituency of Port Dickson.

Pahang

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation44,14355.955+2
Malayan Chinese Association8,64310.961New
Total52,78666.916+3
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya11,80614.960–
Parti Ra'ayat5,1306.500–
Total16,93621.470–
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party9,16911.6200
Total78,891100.006+3
Valid votes78,89199.01
Invalid/blank votes7900.99
Total votes79,681100.00
Registered voters/turnout109,53572.74
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[11]

Penang

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation31,75623.223+1
Malayan Chinese Association28,49320.8320
Total60,24944.055+1
Labour Party of Malaya52,23738.193+3
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party14,82910.8400
People's Progressive Party3,8992.850New
Independents5,5694.0700
Total136,783100.008+4
Valid votes136,78399.02
Invalid/blank votes1,3580.98
Total votes138,141100.00
Registered voters/turnout188,66873.22
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[12]

Perak

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation77,14724.859+4
Malayan Chinese Association69,59222.415+2
Malayan Indian Congress7,3172.3610
Total154,05649.6215+6
People's Progressive Party83,50926.904+1
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party47,75715.380–1
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya1,4520.470–
Parti Ra'ayat7,4102.390–
Total8,8622.850–
Independents16,2965.251+1
Total310,480100.0020+10
Valid votes310,48098.77
Invalid/blank votes3,8811.23
Total votes314,361100.00
Registered voters/turnout449,96969.86
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[13]

Perlis

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
United Malays National Organisation17,65359.632+1
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party11,95040.370New
Total29,603100.002+1
Valid votes29,60399.25
Invalid/blank votes2230.75
Total votes29,826100.00
Registered voters/turnout38,35577.76
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[14]

Selangor

[edit]
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance PartyUnited Malays National Organisation44,42322.495+1
Malayan Chinese Association34,76017.5930
Malayan Indian Congress8,3944.251New
Total87,57744.339+2
Malayan Peoples'
Socialist Front		Labour Party of Malaya34,32217.3730
Parti Ra'ayat25,66512.992New
Total59,98730.365New
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party15,6917.9400
People's Progressive Party7,8213.9600
Malayan Party4,0082.0300
Independent22,47711.3800
Total197,561100.0014+7
Valid votes197,56198.87
Invalid/blank votes2,2591.13
Total votes199,820100.00
Registered voters/turnout271,36073.64
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[15]

Terengganu

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party32,12447.634New
United Malays National Organisation25,23737.421–2
Parti Negara7,98611.841+1
Parti Ra'ayat5950.880New
Independents1,4972.220New
Total67,439100.006+3
Valid votes67,43998.69
Invalid/blank votes8981.31
Total votes68,337100.00
Registered voters/turnout97,16470.33
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github[16]

The registered voters above refer to total voters of contested constituencies. The total electorate of Trengganu is 114898 which includes uncontested parliamentary constituency of Kemaman

State Assemblies

[edit]
Main article: 1959 Malayan state elections

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p152 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. ^ Arkib Negara: Pembentukan Kabinet Yang Pertama Selepas Merdeka[permanent dead link‍] (in Malay)
  3. ^ "HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/Malaysia_Federal_Elections_Summary.csv at main · TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS". GitHub. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  4. ^ "ALL THE FEDERAL ELECTION RESULTS". Singapore Free Press. 20 August 1959. p. 9. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  5. ^ "HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv at main · TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS". GitHub. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  6. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  7. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1964-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYSIA_1964_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  8. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  9. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  10. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  11. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  12. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  13. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  14. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  15. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
  16. ^ https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/blob/main/1959-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYA_1959_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv
[edit]
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