The by-election was held on 14 May and 23 July for Radin Mas and Bukit Merah constituencies respectively.

The by-election were called following the deaths of its respective MPs Govindasamy Naidu and Lim Guan Hoo.

On 13 February, Bukit Merah MP Lim Guan Hoo suffered compilations from stroke, and on the following day, N. Govindasamy Naidu died in office.

B. Jeyaretnam stepped forward to contest the ward against its PAP candidate Bernard Chen Tien Lap, a former civil servant.

The PAP fielded civilist Lim Chee Oon to defend the seat.