One Little Indian Boy (Merdeka 1996 & 1997)

After six weeks of campaigning, the Alliance swept 51 of the 52 seats.

The election cemented the coalition of different
ethnic parties which agreed for Umno president Tunku Abdul Rahman to be
appointed Chief Minister of Malaya. His
Cabinet comprised six Malays, three Chinese and one Indian.

The Pan-Malayan Islamic Party, later known as PAS, was
the only opposition party not wiped out, winning the Krian constituency in
Perak.

The electorate rejected outright Parti Negara, led by
former Umno president Datuk Onn Jaafar, the socialist Labour Party, People’s
Progressive Party and other minor groups.

Helicopters and motor launches were among the modes of
transport for bringing out ballot papers from rural areas to counting centres.

Newspapers reported that political parties tried
building enthusiasm for the polls during the five-week campaign but only got
lukewarm response from the 1.28 million eligible voters.

The 1955 election was the final step towards Independence. In 1957,
the Federation of Malaya gained complete Independence
from Britain.
Tunku subsequently led the Alliance
to victories in the 1959, 1964 and 1969 general elections.

After the May 13 riots of 1969, the Alliance transformed into a larger coalition
- Barisan Nasional - with Tun Abdul Razak Hussein leading it to victory in
1974.

Barisan has never lost control of the government
although twice – in 1969 and 2008 - it failed to secure a two-thirds majority.

Throughout the decades, voting patterns reflected the
prevailing communal moods.

Issues that determined the voting pattern in 1955
included the culmination of Malay nationalism, the rise of anti-colonial
sentiments and socialist based parties; Communist insurgency and state of
emergency (1948-1960); and education and better condition of life for working
class.