In the aftermath of the 1957 City Council Elections, in which the People’s Action Party (PAP) secured 13 of the 14 seats it contested, the Party’s Ong Eng Guan was appointed Mayor of the Council. However, Ong’s anti-colonial and populist stance resulted in open clashes with his colleagues on the Council and the PAP. In 1959, the central government took over part of the Council’s functions and eventually abolished the Council. Ong subsequently resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was expelled from the PAP in 1960. Following his resignation, a by-election was held in 1961. Ong challenged the PAP to contest his seat in the Hong Lim ward. He successfully retained his seat and won by a comfortable margin.
