United People's Party (Singapore)

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United People's Party
Chinese name人民团结党
Malay nameParti Rakyat Bersatu
Founder Ong Eng Guan
Founded14 July 1961;64 years ago (1961-07-14)
Dissolved4 December 2025;2 days ago (2025-12-04) (de jure)
Ideology Anti-colonialism
Reformism
Anti-communism
ColoursBlue

The United People's Party (abbreviation: UPP) was a political party in Singapore founded by former People's Action Party (PAP) leader Ong Eng Guan. [1] [2] The party was officially registered on 14 July 1961. [3] [4] In the 1963 general election, the UPP fielded 46 candidates to contest 51 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Despite the broad participation, the party secured only one seat, won by Ong himself in the Hong Lim seat, where he garnered 44.5 per cent of the vote, a significant decline compared to the over 70 per cent majority he had achieved in the 1959 election under the PAP and the 1961 by-election as an independent. [5] [6]

Contents

The future of the UPP became uncertain following Singapore's separation from the Malaysia in 1965. [7] In June of that year, Ong resigned from his legislative seat citing the lack of an "effective media whereby opposition parties can convey their message to the people". [8] The by-election for his vacated seat was subsequently won by the PAP. After this the UPP became dormant and ceased contesting in further elections although it remains officially registered as a political party. [4]

On 7 August 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs sought proof of UPP's existence along with 13 other political parties due to its failure to comply with the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021. If there is no proof of existence provided to the Singapore Government within 3 months, the Registrar of Societies will deem the party as officially defunct. [9] The party was officially deregistered on 4 December 2025. [10] [11]

Election results

Legislative Assembly

ElectionLeaderVotes%SeatsPositionResult
ContestedTotal+/–
SeatsWonLost
1963 Ong Eng Guan 48,9678.39%46145
1 / 51
Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 4thOpposition

References

  1. ↑ "Eng Guan forms a new party". The Straits Times . 19 June 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 26 September 2024– via NewspaperSG.
  2. ↑ "Permits for seven local societies". The Singapore Free Press . 26 July 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 26 September 2024– via NewspaperSG.
  3. ↑ "New party now registered". The Straits Times. 22 July 1961.
  4. 1 2 "United People's Party". SGP Business.
  5. ↑ "Ong Eng Guan". Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board.
  6. ↑ Fong, Sip Chee (1 January 1980). The PAP Story – the pioneering years. Times Periodicals. pp. 203, 207, 209. ISBN   978-9971941017.
  7. ↑ Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965
  8. ↑ "Mr. Ong quits the assembly". The Straits Times. 17 June 1965.
  9. ↑ "14 political parties asked for proof of existence have yet to comply with foreign interference law: MHA". The Straits Times. 2025.
  10. ↑ "No. 5843 –– SOCIETIES ACT 1966" (PDF). Singapore Government Gazette. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  11. ↑ Devaraj, Samuel (5 December 2025). "Singapore deregisters 14 inactive political parties, including Barisan Sosialis". The Straits Times . Retrieved 5 December 2025.


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