Ho Puay Choo was the first opposition MP in Singapore. She joined the PAP in 1955 and organized activities through the PAP Women's Section from 1955-1957. She was elected to the PAP Central Executive Committee in 1957 and stood for City Council elections that year. In 1959, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly. Dissatisfied with terms on the merger with Malaysia, she resigned from the PAP Central Executive Committee and party in 1962. She retired from politics in 1963.

1. Ho Puay Choo, 1st Opposition MP
Hoe Puay Choo handing over $21
to Mdm Mok Swee Ho, 56, one of
the fire victims of Upper Chin Chew
Street on 3 March, 1961.
Hoe Puay Choo (extreme left) and
Chan Choy Siong (next to Hoe) with
Lady Macmillian and Felice Leon-
Soh. on 1 February, 1958.
Background
Her family was oppressed in China. She encountered much hardship and in 1955,
joined the People's Action Party (PAP). Her role was to organize activities through the
PAP Women's Section (1955-1957).
In October 1957, she was elected to Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PAP at
a Special Party Conference. She stood for City Council Elections in 1957 and her
election campaign trail took her to Kampong Glam.
In 1959, she participated in the Legislative Assembly General Elections and was elected
into office as a Member of Legislative Assembly for Bras Basah. In 1961, Ong Eng
Guan achieved victory in the Hong Lim By-election and for some, it showed that the
political landscape was changing.

2. Dissatisfied with terms on Merger, Ho resigned from PAP Central Executive Committee
(CEC) and People's Action Party (PAP) in 1962.
In an interview with the National Archives of SIngapore, Ho spoke on her reaction to the
Prime Minister's remarks on her resignation and the reasons for her unsuccessful
applications to join the Barisan Sosialis. She also spoke on how she twice led the kin of
political detainees (those arrested during Operation Coldstore) on peaceful petition to
seek detainees' release.
Ho retired from politics in 1963.
References
National Archives of Singapore (NAS). Synopsis of interview with Ho Puay Choo.
Accession No: 000801. (Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from
interviewee)
Images from NAS PT2001, 16341 and heresthenews.blogspot.com
27 January 2013

3. Selected Sources
The Straits Times, 5 July 1962, Page 8

4. The Straits Times, 29 June 1963, Page 1
Image from heresthenews.blogspot.com