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The People's Action Party (abbrev: PAP; Chinese: 人民行动党; Pinyin: Rénmín Xíngdòngdǎng; Malay: Parti Tindakan Rakyat) is a political party in Singapore. It has been the ruling political party in Singapore since 1959 and thus enjoys a significant role in the formation of the government of Singapore. From the 1963 general elections onwards, the PAP has dominated Singapore's parliamentary democracy and has been closely linked to the city-state's political, social, and economic development into a developed nation. At the same time, it has faced criticism from opposition parties and international organizations for passing heavy-handed laws that suppress dissent and free speech.