Malayan general election, 1955

27 July 1955 (timelines)

52 (of the 98) seats to the Federal Legislative Council
27 seats needed for a majority

Registered

1,280,855

Turnout

1,027,211 (82.8%)

	First party	Second party	Third party
			PMIP
Leader	Tunku Abdul Rahman	Onn Jaafar	Abbas Alias
Party	Alliance	National Party	PMIP
Leader since	23 August 1951 (1951-08-23)	10 May 1946 (1946-05-10)	1953
Leader's seat	Sungei Muda	No seat	No seat
Seats won	51	No seats	1
Popular vote	818,013	78,909	40,667
Percentage	81.7%	7.9%	4.1%

	Fourth party	Fifth party	Sixth party
	NAP	PML	Lab
Leader			D. S. Ramanathan
Party	National Association of Perak	Perak Malay League	Labour Party of Malaya
Leader since			1953
Leader's seat		No seat	No seat
Seats won	No seats	No seats	No seats
Seat change
Popular vote	20,996	5,433	4,786
Percentage	2.1%	0.5%	0.5%

	Seventh party
	PPP
Leader	D. R. Seenivasagam
Party	Perak Progressive Party
Leader since	1953
Leader's seat	No seat
Seats won	No seats
Popular vote	1,081
Percentage	0.1%

Elected Chief Minister

Tunku Abdul Rahman
Alliance

A general election was held on Wednesday, 27 July 1955, the only general election before Malaya's independence in 1957. It was held to elect members of the Federal Legislative Council, which prior to this was fully appointed by the British High Commissioner in Malaya. Voting took place in all 52 federal constituencies of Malaya, each electing one Federal Councillor to the Federal Legislative Council. State elections also took place in all 136 state constituencies in 9 states of Malaya and 2 settlements from 10 October 1954 to 12 November 1955, each electing one Councillor to the State Council or Settlement Council.

The election was the first in which the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) contested. MIC joined the Alliance Party in 1954.

The Pan-Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP, later known as PAS) was formed primarily to contest in the 1955 election. Before that, PMIP was known as the "Pan-Malayan Islamic Association", as a part of UMNO. PMIP won support by proclaiming its aim of making Islam the base of the Malay society in the north of Malay Peninsula, which was facing the lowest economic growth in Malaya.

The election resulted in a decisive win for the Alliance, which consisted of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and MIC, and a resounding defeat for Parti Negara, led by former UMNO president Onn Jaafar. Onn himself failed to win a seat, while the Alliance proceeded to form the new government, with its leader Tunku Abdul Rahman becoming Chief Minister.^[1]

Thirty Alliance candidates had majorities of over 10,000 votes. Nine of them had majorities of over 20,000. Forty-three of their opponents lost their deposits.

Timelines

Federal Legislative Council

Nomination Date : 15 June 1955
Election day : 27 July 1955

State Council

State	Nomination Date	State election
Johor	1 September 1954	10 October 1954
Terengganu		29 October 1954
Selangor	11 August 1955	27 September 1955
Kedah	14 August 1955	nil
Kelantan	15 August 1955	19 September 1955
Perlis	17 August 1955	24 September 1955
Pahang	25 August 1955	26 September 1955
Negeri Sembilan	8 September 1955	12 October 1955
Perak	1 October 1955	12 November 1955

Settlement Council

Settlement	Nomination Date	State election
Penang	13 January 1955	19 February 1955
Malacca	4 August 1955	nil

Results

Federal Legislative Council

The Alliance Party won around 80% of the total vote and 51 out of 52 seats contested. PMIP won their only seat in Krian, Perak. Its sole winning candidate, Haji Ahmad Tuan Hussein, an Islamic scholar, was subsequently nicknamed "Mr. Opposition". Voter turnout was 82.8%.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan *Federal Legislative Council* election results**
Party				Vote		Seats
Party				Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	818,013	81.68	51	98.08
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	589,933	58.90	34	65.38
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	201,212	20.09	15	28.85
		Malayan Indian Congress	MIC	26,868	2.68	2	3.85
	National Party		Negara	78,909	7.88	0	0.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	40,667	4.06	1	1.92
	National Association of Perak		NAP	20,996	2.10	0	0.00
	Perak Malay League		PML	5,433	0.54	0	0.00
	Labour Party of Malaya		Lab	4,786	0.48	0	0.00
	Perak Progressive Party		PPP	1,081	0.11	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	31,642	3.16	0	0.00
Valid votes				1,001,527
Invalid/blank votes				25,684
Overall total (turnout: 82.8%)				1,027,211	100.00	52	100.00
Did not vote				252,789
Registered voters				1,280,855
Source: The Malayan Elections, Francis G. Carnell.^[2]

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

Results by state

Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results by state

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Perlis**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	1	17,769	66.84	1	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	1	17,769	66.84	1	100.00
	Independents		IND	1	8,814	33.16	0	0.00
Valid votes					26,583
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	1	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					30,936
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Perlis's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Kedah**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	6	155,151	93.34	6	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	4	106,204	63.89	4	66.67
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	2	48,947	29.45	2	33.33
	National Party		Negara	4	6,692	4.03	0	0.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	1	1,563	0.94	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	2	2,817	1.69	0	0.00
Valid votes					166,223
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	6	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					193,865
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Kedah's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Kelantan**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	5	130,513	78.09	5	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	5	130,513	78.09	5	100.00
	National Party		Negara	4	20,459	12.24	0	0.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	3	13,399	8.02	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	3	2,758	1.65	0	0.00
Valid votes					167,129
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	5	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					205,901
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Kelantan's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Trengganu**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	3	57,424	84.87	3	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	3	57,424	84.87	3	100.00
	National Party		Negara	3	10,240	15.13	0	0.00
Valid votes					67,664
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	3	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					92,948
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Trengganu's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Penang**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	4	37,815	79.88	4	100.00
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	2	22,950	48.48	2	50.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	2	14,865	31.40	2	50.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	1	3,523	7.44	0	0.00
	Labour Party of Malaya		Lab	1	2,650	5.60	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	2	3,354	7.08	0	0.00
Valid votes					47,342
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	4	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					98,780
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Penang's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Perak**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	10	115,033	70.55	9	90.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	6	72,694	44.58	5	50.00
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	3	34,439	21.12	3	30.00
		Malayan Indian Congress	MIC	1	7,900	4.85	1	10.00
	National Association of Perak		NAP	9	20,996	12.88	0	0.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	3	13,694	8.40	1	10.00
	Perak Malay League		PML	3	5,433	3.33	0	0.00
	Labour Party of Malaya		Lab	2	1,118	0.69	0	0.00
	Perak Progressive Party		PPP	2	1,081	0.66	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	4	5,699	3.50	0	0.00
Valid votes					163,054
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	10	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					206,466
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Perak's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Pahang**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	3	46,932	89.95	3	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	3	46,932	89.95	3	100.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	1	1,999	3.83	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	2	3,244	6.22	0	0.00
Valid votes					52,175
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	3	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					65,240
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Pahang's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Selangor**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	7	50,178	71.19	7	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	4	33,069	46.92	4	57.14
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	3	17,109	24.27	3	42.86
	National Party		Negara	7	11,796	16.74	0	0.00
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	2	6,489	9.21	0	0.00
	Labour Party of Malaya		Lab	1	1,018	1.44	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	1	1,003	1.42	0	0.00
Valid votes					70,484
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	7	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					85,579
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Selangor's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Negri Sembilan**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	3	41,656	83.10	3	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	2	33,254	66.34	2	66.67
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	1	8,402	16.76	1	33.33
	National Party		Negara	3	7,968	15.89	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	1	506	1.01	0	0.00
Valid votes					50,130
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	3	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					58,318
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Negri Sembilan's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Malacca**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	2	43,894	87.95	2	100.00
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	1	26,790	53.68	1	50.00
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	1	17,104	34.27	1	50.00
	National Party		Negara	1	2,821	5.65	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	1	3,194	6.40	0	0.00
Valid votes					49,909
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	2	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					64,708
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Malacca's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

**Summary of the 27 July 1955 Malayan Federal Legislative Council election results in Johore**
Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
Party				Candidates	Votes	%	Won	%
	Alliance Party^{[lower-alpha 1]}		Alliance	8	121,648	86.07	8	100.00
		Malayan Chinese Association	MCA	3	52,261	36.98	3	37.50
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO	4	50,419	35.67	4	50.00
		Malayan Indian Congress	MIC	1	18,968	13.42	1	12.50
	National Party		Negara	8	19,433	13.75	0	0.00
	Independents		IND	1	253	0.18	0	0.00
Valid votes					141,334
Invalid/blank votes
Total votes (voter turnout: %)					'	100.00	8	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters					178,114
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)					'
Johore's population					'
Source:

↑ Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

State and Settlement Councils

Notes

↑ Gill, Ranjit (1990). Of Political Bondage. Sterling Corporate Services. p. 40. ISBN 981-00-2136-4.
↑ Carnell, Francis G. (December 1955). "The Malayan Elections". Pacific Affairs. University of British Columbia. 28 (4): 315. ISSN 0030-851X. JSTOR 3035316. doi:10.2307/3035316.

References

Barbara Watson Andaya dan Leonard Y. Andaya. A History of Malaysia, The MacMlllan Press Ltd. (1982). ISBN 0-333-27673-6.
The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book International (1994). ISBN 0-7166-6694-4.

Elections in Malaysia
General elections	1955 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1995 1999 2004 2008 2013 next by-elections
State elections	1954 1955 1959 1963 1964 1967 1969 1971 1974 1976 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1990 1991 1994 1995 1996 1999 2001 2004 2006 2008 2011 2013 2016 by-elections
Local elections	1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
See also: Elections in Johor Kedah Kelantan Kuala Lumpur Labuan Malacca Negeri Sembilan Pahang Penang Perak Perlis Putrajaya Sabah Sarawak Selangor Terengganu

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