Boat Race (Merdeka 1999 & 2001)

July 27, 1955

Malaya's
first general election

In an overwhelming victory, the Alliance sweeps 51 of the 52 seats contested
in the Legislative Council Federal Elections (MPP) 1955. Read more...

http://elections.thestar.com.my/story.aspx?file=/2013/4/4/GE13/20130410153110#.U_-zKPldX5F

AFTER more than a century of colonial rule, the rise
of nationalism saw the British loosening their grip on Malaya.

The first local elections was held in Malacca in
November 1951 but all the nominations were returned unopposed. Elections for George Town municipal council in Penang
a month later were the first popular elections in the Federation of Malaya. Kuala Lumpur held its
municipal council elections in 1952.

This was followed by the introduction of a new
Constitution. The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), Malayan Chinese
Association (MCA) and Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) formed a partnership known
as Alliance.

The Malayan Union was formed on April 1, 1946. Umno
was established the same year to oppose the Malayan Union, which curbed the
powers of the Malay Rulers. MIC was set up the same year, and MCA in 1949.

The Malayan Union was replaced by the Federation of
Malaya in 1948.

Nominations for the first federal election were on
June 15, 1955, when a total of 129 candidates – 111 from seven parties and 18
independents – filed their nomination papers for 52 parliamentary seats.