The People’s Action Party (PAP) contested all 51 constituencies at the Legislative Assembly Election of 1959 and secured 43 seats. Of the remaining seats, the Singapore People’s Alliance (headed by Lim Yew Hock) won four, the UMNO-MCA Alliance won three, while an Independent secured one. The PAP declared internal self-government and Lee Kuan Yew was sworn in as the first Prime Minister. The former British Governor in Singapore, William Goode, was succeeded by Yusof Bin Ishak, who become Yang di-Pertuan Negara (chief of state) in December 1959.
