Founding and Early Development of the People's Action Party in Singapore（1954-1968）

Autor: Wang, Chyi- Ming, 王麒銘
Rok vydání: 2002
Druh dokumentu: 學位論文 ; thesis
Popis: 90
The title of the dissertation is “The Founding and Early Development of the People’s Action Party in Singapore（1954-1968）”. The period is from PAP was established in 1954 to the first election after the independence of Singapore in 1968. The approach of the dissertation is historical approach, and the method is document analytical method. PAP was established by a group of English graduates after the Second World War. Lee Kuan Yew, Toh Chin Chey, Goh Heng Swee, and others planned to form a new party. In order to find suitable political partners and basic supports from the public, Lee Kuan Yew sent out invitations to labor leaders. Headed by Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan, after some consideration, they decided to join. 1954/11/21, PAP was officially established, Toh Chin Chye as the party chairman, and Lee Kwan Yew as the secretary. 1959/5/30, PAP in the first “Self-Government Legislative Assembly” election, won 43 out of 51 seats, and became the party in power. 1960/6, Ong Eng Guan criticized Lee’s leadership, as the result, Ong Eng Guan and the two PAP members who supported him, were fired from the party. This event was PAP’s first split, signaled the clearance with in non-communists. 1961/7/21, the non-communists and the procommunists argued over the issue of whether Singapore should combine with Malaya in the Legislative Assembly. The non-communists won narrowly, and Lee fired the procommunists, and form the Socialist Front, this was second split within the party. 1963/9/16, Malaysia was established officially, members including Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah. 1963/9/21, PAP won the Legislative Assembly election. 1965/8/9, Singapore left Malaysia and became an independent country. 1968/1, PAP won all the seats in the assembly, this was the first election after the independence. This started the situation of one party in power. This research discovered the rise of PAP and becoming in power, could be split into two aspects, within and outside party. Intra influence: Dignity in the movement against colonialism, public support for government policies, fine government officials, especially Lee’s outstanding abilities and aura, was one of PAP’s most valuable assets. Extra influence: David Marshall’s government was too passive in dealing with the social movements, Lim Yew Hock’s government was too aggressive and corrupted. And in the history of PAP’s development there are other important influences as well: Extra influence: (1) The two clearance movements in 1956/10, 1957/8/22, most of the procommunists were arrested, and the non-communists had to return to the central government, and after the reform, the party took a good grip hold on the power. (2) The Socialist Front made a political error when they agree to join the Federal State. Lee Siew Chooh’s leadership caused the split within the S.F., especially when he announced to go against the election, effectively put himself out of the contention. Intra influence: (1) PAP has always perform well as a government. (2) PAP’s organizations are all very well-connected. Official government organizations: in the central, National party representatives, CEC, locally they have party branches. Besides that, there’re also People’s Association, Community Center, NAYTI, Consultative Committee, and so on. These organizations have penetrated the life circle and all corners of Singapore deeply, and it’s been extremely beneficial to the government in running their policies and getting public support. (3) PAP’s dealt issues with suitable plans, made good use of their advantages as the government in power, and not making the mistakes made by the previous government. All the above is the conclusion from the resaved related to PAP’s rise to power and early developments, from 1954 to 1968.
Databáze: Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations
Externí odkaz: