QuickCheck: Is it true one party won almost all the seats in Malaya’s first general election?

THE first general election in the Federation of Malaya was held in 1955. Was it a landslide victory for the Alliance Party, led by the nation’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman?

VERDICT:

TRUE

Yes, the Alliance Party (or Parti Perikatan in Malay) swept 51 of the 52 federal seats contested in Malaya’s first general election.

Such a comfortable win gave the coalition – made up of Umno, MCA and MIC – the mandate to form the government after the inaugural polls on July 27, 1955.

“The Alliance Party’s victory showed that their struggle was in line with what the people in Malaya were striving for at that time.

“Over 80% of voters gave their support to the coalition,” reads an excerpt from the National Archives of Malaysia website.

Among others, the election manifesto of the Alliance Party was to achieve independence for the nation in four years, make education compulsory for all races and protect the rights of the Malay Rulers as part of a constitutional monarchy.

“Such a manifesto won the hearts of voters, leading to the coalition clinching almost 100% of the contested seats,” the website read.

As the Alliance Party leader, Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed as the Federation of Malaya’s first Chief Minister.

On July 31, 1955, a Cabinet was formed with the agreement of the British high commissioner.

The coalition later fulfilled its promise by achieving independence for the federation two years after the general election.

Reference:

http://www.arkib.gov.my/web/guest/pilihanraya-umum-pertama-19553