The Sunday Times, Feb 18, 1968
It was an unprecedented Nomination Day victory for the People’s Action Party today. When nominations closed at noon, 51 of the party’s 58 candidates were returned unopposed, thus sweeping the PAP into power for the third consecutive term.
An hour after the Opposition conceded a walkover, the Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, struck a sober note when he told a press conference:
"Neither in 1959 nor in 1953 were the governments elected presented with the problem of the dimensions that this Government, after April 13 (Polling Day), will be faced with.
"Our continued security is a pre-condition of continuing confidence for continuous inflow of investment and expanding industries.
"Our robust economy will, in turn, provide the revenue that will enable Singapore to make its common defence with Malaysia even more secure."
In the other seven constituencies, Polling Day will see straight fights between the PAP and their opponents -- five Independents and two Workers’ Party candidates.
Except for the Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, all the other nine Cabinet Ministers were returned unopposed in their constituencies.
Mr Lee will face an unknown Mr R Vetrivelu, a merchant, in Tanjong Pagar.
The Minister of Finance, Dr Goh Keng Swee, said today he was confident the Government could solve the problems arising from the accelerated withdrawal of British bases in Singapore.
At the opening of an art exhibition at the PAP Kreta Ayer branch to mark its ninth anniversary, he said the PAP, since its formation in 1954, had steered through many difficulties and led the people through their struggle against colonial rule to independence.
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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