“Cooling-off” day for voters to reflect “calmly” on their decisions or for the PAP to do last minute campaigning?
December 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: OPINION
With elections looming around the corner, the ruling party is again making use of the power of its incumbency to change the rules of the game and shift the goal-posts in order to “engineer” another electoral result which will ensure their continued political hegemony.
In other modern democracies, the best result a political party can achieve is a simple majority to form the government without having to enter into a coalition with another party.
Under the unique Singapore political system, the PAP has set such high “standards” for itself that anything less than the status quo (winning 82 out of 84 seats) is considered a failure or in the words of MM Lee Kuan Yew, a “freak” result. (according to Dr Yaacob, this will be a “once in a fifty year” event)
Throughout the years, the PAP has cleverly manipulated the system to maximize its chances of winning in every elections, be it through rampant gerrymandering via the GRC system, serving a dose of pork-barrel politics to threaten the electorate or using the state media to discredit and demolish their opponents. Nothing is left to chance.
The latest announcement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that an additional “cooling-off” day will be introduced in the next election should not be dismissed as something trivial for it is a reflection of the behind-scene preparations which have been going on for the last few months.
The “cooling-off” day is supposed to give voters more time to “calmly” reflect on their decision and to prevent public disorder from breaking out.
All campaigning including mass rallies, door-to-door visits and display of party logos and symbols in public places will be banned on the “cooling-off” day which is extended to cyberspace as well, but there is one exception: the news reporting on the election in the state media and the traditional broadcasts of political parties will not be affected.
The PAP’s greatest fear lies in the electorate being swayed by charismatic speakers and articles in the new media which lies beyond their control. The additional day is actually an “insurance policy” for them to attempt to influence the outcome of the election in the last minute should things turn out not the way they wanted or expected.
During the 2006 elections, the opposition rallies are attended by tens of thousands of Singaporeans while the PAP rallies only managed to attract a paltry crowd. Even PM Lee’s son admitted that the opposition rallies are more exciting.
Though the new media did not play a major role then, blogger Alex Au of Yawning Bread still managed to embarrass the state media which censored photos of the huge turnout at opposition rallies by posting photos of the large crowd attending the Workers’ Party’s rallies on his blog.
Mr Brown’s “Bak Chor Mee” parody which poured sarcasm on the PAP’s constant harping on the Gomezgate issue was a hit among netizens and exposed the hypocrises of its leaders.
Despite their recent forays into the new media, the PAP has literally no conceivable presence in cyberspace which is dominated by blogs critical of the establishment or sympathetic towards the opposition cause.
The “cooling-off” day will help to counter the advantage enjoyed by the opposition in these two aspects and to tap on the inherent strengths of the PAP which will be given longer air time on TV and favorable coverage in the state media.
In other words, this means that only pro-government voices are allowed to heard in the public domain on the eve of polling day which will surely tilt the playing field in favor of the PAP.
For those who have already made up their minds long before the election, they do not require an extra day to make a “rational” decision.
The target group is voters with no political affiliations and have not decided who to cast their votes for. Due to the general apathy pervading the entire nation, a significant proportion of Singaporeans may fall into this “swing” group which have the potential to determine the final result in closely fought contests.
With Singapore voters becoming more politically astute and demanding coupled with the emergence of the new media as an alternative source of information to counter the official propaganda from the mainstream media, the odds of a “freak” result happening in the next election is not as remote as it seems.
While it is highly unlikely that the PAP will be booted out of government or even denied their customary two-thirds majority due to the ineptitude and weakness of the opposition, there is a good chance that they may lose a GRC which will deal a psychological blow to its aura of invincibility.
GRCs are considered as impregnable “fortresses” of the PAP which had never lost a single one since the scheme was first introduced in the 1988 general elections.
Once a GRC falls into the opposition hands, the floodgate will open with more and more Singaporeans joining the ranks of the opposition to challenge the PAP as predicted by MM Lee himself the likely scenario in the post-LKY era.
The Malaysian opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) founded by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was considered a “goner” before the 2008 general elections. After it won an unprecedened 31 seats to become the largest opposition party in parliament, its membership shot up by more than 100 per cent in less than a year.
The stakes are getting higher and higher for the PAP. The loss of a GRC or a few more single wards in addition to the two opposition wards of Potong Pasir and Hougang will herald a new dawn in Singapore politics.
No amount of gerrymandering, propaganda or repression, let alone a ”cooling-off” day can deter a politically aware, educated and informed citizenry for supporting alternative parties to break the political monopoly enjoyed by the PAP continuously since the 1966 elections when the opposition Barisan Sosialist made a colossal blunder by boycotting it.
The real battle will not be fought during the campaigning period or on the eve of polling day, but on every single day after Singaporeans gave the PAP another “overwhelming” mandate in 2006.
From the ministers giving themselves a big pay rise, the relentless influx of foreigners, sky-rocketing prices of public housing, investment losses of Temasek and GIC, rising cost of living to a series of repressive laws introduced to curtail the civil liberties of Singaporeans, the PAP’s “track record” is for all to see. Can we afford to give them another blank cheque to do as they please for the next five years?
By the time the next election is held, the PAP would have been in power for more than 5 decades. The time is ripe for a “freak” election to occur.
Related articles:
>> SDP opposes “cooling-off” day and calls for a genuine electoral process
>> Low Thia Kiang: Cooling-off period will give PAP an extra day of campaigning
>> PM Lee: 24 hour “cooling-off” period at next GE
>> Websites of political parties will be bound by cooling-off day rules
Posted in 
Coz it’s true to character of...
Absolute Power and current situation.
Ripe? No I don’t think it’s ripe at all…remember the many apathetic propoganda filled minds wandering around in Singapore. There’s so many it almost makes you sad when you make a closer observation. BTW, are new citizens eligible to vote?
i think we all can predict what we will see on the MSM. a total no-brainer. Seriously though, is anyone really convinced by all this?
And then on Polling Day… The pappy and pappies “kachang-puteh” sale talk-the-walk on “Cooling-Off-Day” WILL BE “TRUMPETED” by The pappy MSM!!!
Will kangaroo court jump on msm if PAP violated the cooling day? The incident of kangaroo judge allowing PAP inside polling stations and disallowing alternative parties near polling stations remain vivid in everyone’s mind. It seems LHL is not only playing the role of PM but he also talked on behalf of pesident and kangaroo. They are all-in-one package giving Singaporeans and alternative parties an unfair deal on cooling day. We should not just watch and do nothing on cooling day, all these filth and dirty tricks must be exposed via photos and reports to give alternative parties a huge leg-up in votes. Let’s spread the words to everyone we came across and educate them the tricks of PAP.
singapore is still singapore! change! what type of changes are we talking above? yeah, the only change that we can really see is the sg with its cronies getting richer and richer day by day without accountabilities and responsibilities!!!
THE PAP have one full day to hurt and lock down the internet.
Those who are government service, they are remind of the jobs and mostly have to vote for the PAP. Are singaporean have a free and fair election. ON that very day, many of RC members go around and brainwash all the old folks.
THERE another tricks which we find is impossible for the country to move forward. LET us made changes to have a responsible government and not let them fool us another five years.
D-day order for Singapore
You will bring about the destruction of the PAP war machine, the elimination of PAP tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Singapore, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 2010. Much has happened since the PAP triumphs of 1959.
The tide has turned.
The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.
We will accept nothing less than full victory.
Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty upon this great and noble undertaking.
Signs are that the PAP are getting very nervous. They now know
that the people are getting very fed up. They have taken the “obedient” populace for granted but through their feedback, they must have received a lot of negative comments.So as a magician always does, to pull one additional trick from the sleeve.
My suggestion is to spread the news to boycott the Shitty Times on the last day of campaigning!,…and to mingle in the coffee shops and by word of mouth asking the people to vote for the opposition.
Someone is panicking and shitting in the pants. 1 day or 1 week doesn’t really matter. The mind had being made up during these 3 years. Had seen enough “honest mistakes”, security screw ups, anti-citizen measures, blame games, unreasonable rise in living costs and “freak” incidents.
if this cooling day was not even used in the days where Tang LH was named a racist but now, there are 2 possibilities:
1. the hole created by the financial practices of LHL is so big that he had to win else once the hole is exposed, he will be in such deep shit. or singapore will be in such deep shit.
2. they have no confidence of winning without the old man and need to change the laws such that they can keep winning by staging a surprise ISA arrest before election.
This is a sad case.
this proof that the last general election was too HOT!! for PAP That they need cooling off period
My oppinion, All singaporean that going to cast their vote to cool of the brain by switch off all the T.V,Radio, internet..on the cooling day. So we just cool ourself. Don’t you know who to vote after last election.
Again!? TR did not pick up that 18seats will go to NON PAP members as stated in the straits times. With that statement in the straits times its no longer IF they lose 1 or 2 GRCs it IS giving up 18 seats!!! what are you on about this cooling off period? Don’t you think the PAP giving up 18 seats require bigger thoughts than this… cooling off period?
if PAP had been effective, they will definitely be returned to power. so why is PAP trying to introduce a measure that seems to tell their lack of confidence? I’m pretty sure PAP will be returned to power. Ok, so 10 Opposition MPs with voting powers will give PAP a hard time, I understand their concerns. These so called poor quality opposition MPs will probably disrupt proceedings, running around, jumping up and down, probably some dozing off in a sitting, eating ice-scream during proceedings and make monkey faces whenever they disagree with PAP MPs… so that’s probably why PAP wouldn’t want too many of them in parliament… However, I think PAP should know that these mere mortals, decides on who to vote for by reviewing the performance of PAP through out the whole term – not just by the campaigning days. There’s no point delaying the inevitable. Unless, PAP is really unsure of their chances this time round… Oh boy! Wouldn’t the lack of confidence hurt the party’s image?
I’d bet on that 24 hours, many websites including this one, will be shut down by the PAP. mr Brown also should watch out.
The more I think about it, the more I feel scared of a frightening revelation.
Initially, I thought the cooling off period was meant for PAP to get more votes by assuming people will suddenly switch from wanting to vote for opposition to wanting to vote for PAP. Such scenario is highly unlikely except for the chronic fickle-minded voters.
The real deal, I think, is that this cooling period is really a trap. A mine field. By having this rule, any candidate or specifically, any party who violated this new rule, may find itself disqualified or worse, charged in court.
And this is not a minefield easily avoided. For example, a party may have to disable it’s entire website or remove ALL its posting on the internet (including personal blogs) to be considered not violating a rule. As you can see, it is very easy to have small misstep and once you step on the minefield…KABOOM!
Worse, if a supporter who does not belong to the party continue to make posting about that party, that party may also be liable even though they are not involved.
THAT, I think is the real reason of the cooling off period rule. To create a trap that, should an opposition party win a GRC, they can pick bones on that party and disqualify them of the results, via the judiciary, just because they happened to find evidence of an article posted by a candidate at 12:01am during the cooling off day, for example.
So one small mistake, the opposition party that won big may turn into losing big. The beauty of this trick is that it is so simple to execute. The rules is subjective and open to interpretation by the Singapore Court (just like the loitering in polling station incident). Hence the Court can easily decide which party has violated the rule and thus face disqualification and which party has not.
As such, such an evil trick, if true, by PAP really goes beyond normal human decency just to win votes to continue to oppress the people.
@ CruEL
Dey! What you talking about?
NCMPs have limited voting rights da!
So the 18 NCMP & NMP seat really serves not much purpose.
PAP will still have control of the house – there will still be little alternative voices.
to btan
if pap is so unscrupulous, they risk the image of singapore going down the drains, will they go for broke,your guess is as good as mine.
The cooling off day is a ploy by the paPies to do last minute brain washing via the MAIN STREAM MEDIA as they are not affected by the ‘ban’.
No doubt that the Shitty Times along with the others will be busy brain washing Sinkaporeans n that day since no other media or web are allowed to say, do or effect any campaign related activities.
I say if there should be a cooling period, then ALL MEDIA INCLUSIVE should be binded by the said rule, not just non-gahment related agency.
David said: We should not just watch and do nothing on cooling day, all these filth and dirty tricks must be exposed via photos and reports to give alternative parties a huge leg-up in votes. Let’s spread the words to everyone we came across and educate them the tricks of PAP.
I agree absolutely, TR, TOC, etc should deploy their men on that day and get snapshots of those PaPies running dog caught violating the ban and post it soonest possible so all voters can understand what is:
Monkey Say But Monkey No Do.
@CruEL, what bloody 18 seats your arse talking about? They can give 800 seats and nothing will change because these puppet have NO VOTING RIGHTS.
If PaPies got guts (which obviously they were born lack of), then null GRC and take the fight to single seat wards, one by one, you think they dare?
@Barely Alive
OIC.. CHAY!!! sorry ah, i’ve never considered NMPs to be MPs.. coz.. errr wtf they do? Its like a post for PAP ball carriers who have dirty linen in public that can’t be real men in white.
Still i’m not worried about the cooling off period because me and my family will vote Opposition EVEN IF THE OPPO is a MONKEY, A DOG, A PIG.
Help Singapore by first talking to our own families about the atrocities of the PAP. Simple logic, This bunch of SO good SO talented Government are THIEVES! LEEgal corruption 100% Thieves. Compared to the opposition. 50% worse than thief 50% good guy. So 50% is a better bet than 100% thief right?
Thats how I talk to my parents and siblings. If we cannot even change those opinion at home, how to change this corrupted and evil government?
I still remember on the day before elections 2006, I saw on shitty times,
BEST QUOTE: “S’pore PM asks voters for personal mandate on eve of Polling Day ”
What is personal mandate? So if he did it again on ‘cooling-off’ day, is it fair? Why doesn’t seem like they publish: “WP Low asks for mandate for opposition?”
OTHERS:
and “Dr Balaji Sadasivan promises lower healthcare costs if PAP given strong mandate ” <- did they do it? empty promise again
"SM Goh says strong mandate needed for third cycle of growth " <- always them asking for mandate
"Important for PAP to win strong mandate: PM Lee " <- how important?
"PAP calls for strong mandate in coming election " <- them again…
A simple search will give u all these from PAPa from MSM… How to prove that they will not abuse it on 'cooling-off' day? During non-election period, PAPa can get their anniversary dinner broadcast on TV news while WP cant even get their permit for mass cycling. And Opposition can onli celebrate quietly in a restaurant in TP. Where is the fairness? How can it not affect? U judge.
Pappies are talking using Ferrari as submarine in this “cooling off” day BULLSHIT.
It is only for cooling off their little submarine.
WHO SAYS AN ANNOUNCEMENT MAKES IT LAW?
UNTIL AND UNLESS IT GOES THROUGH THE SELF-HUMILIATION MONKEY MOTION OF PASSING LEGISLATION IN PARLIAMENT, the “Executive” DON’T MAKE this announcement “LAW” in this democracy or anywhere else in the world. Ask any lawyer!! Only Parliament makes law or Courts make common law via precedent of decisions. Until any of those happens, it is no FU$KING LAW except in dictatorship like PRC, North Korea or Cuba.
Are we one of these mafia autocracy?
If it is going to be law, they have to endure the public embarassment of passing through legislative amendment through Parliament and in so doing stenching this democracy and staining this Constitution for permanent public record.
History will come back to haunt them when Opposition comes into Government and repeal these shameful indictment of our national history and heritage.
Oh Now We Get it said: If it is going to be law, they have to endure the public embarassment of passing through legislative amendment through Parliament and in so doing stenching this democracy and staining this Constitution for permanent public record.
I agree absolutely. Any law enacted must be passed by parliment.
But then, passing any law in Parliment will be a walk in the park since under PaPies, Parliment merely function as a rubber stamping agency.
On that cooling=day, we can see that RC committee can run FOC dinner and events, on that very day many resident can sit and watch GET-tai and gets all the goodies and forget what the opposition party have say to us. Mainly all the old folks are brainwash and after getting some goodies, and the next day, when they enter the voting centre with goodies bag and still think the PAP are caring for them.
HOW are the fair and square election is run in SINGAPORE.
THE only day that cost all singaporean in control by the PAP.
How can Opposition parties not be allowed to Rebut if something serious is told in MSM about them?
Is there provision for special situations like emergencies or freak events?
its really a sad situation.
i feel helpless as a citizen.
Yet another proof that the PAP Govt is “CUNNINGLY-clever” and not “COMPETENTLY-clever”:
> “CUNNINGLY-clever”
= pork-barrel politics eg use of public-funded HDB Upgrading to threaten/arm-twist voters.
= election gerrymandering ie fiddling with electoral boundaries; not setting up independent Elections Commission.
> “COMPETENTLY-clever” (as rightly expected by Singapore Taxpayer-Voters of an Obscenely-Paid Million-Dollar Govt)
= able to solve our many national problems eg
high cost of living
high cost of homes (both private and HDB)
rich – poor income gap
job creation
rising divorce rate (within 5 years of marriage)
WHY it took 30 years to admit to Chinese Language policy screw-up?
WHAT about the Stop-At-Two screw-up policy that resulted in huge influx of foreigners?
WHY it took so long to tackle loan-shark problem?
PAP Manifesto for next General Election — BUY VOTES, FIX OPPOSITION !!!
Sinkapore on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 1:02 pm
“Any law enacted must be passed by parliment.
But then, passing any law in Parliment will be a walk in the park since under PaPies”
PAPPIES ARE ALREADY PRETENDING THAT “ANNOUNCEMENT” OF INTENT ITSELF IS “LAW” AND MSM HYPOCRITICALLY PRETENDS THAT IS CORRECT AND TRUTH WHEN IT IS PATENTLY FALSE!!
While it is easy for them to pass the legislation via rubber stamp – it is the motion itself that is self-humiliating of Pappies’ own failure of NOT EVEN BELIEVING IN THEIR CREDENTIALS OF COMPETENCE, TRUTH AND OPENNESS WORTHY OF PUBLIC TRUSTS AND ACCEPTANCE.
Don’t you agree?
It is a bit like you slapping yourself stupid and admitting stupidity at the same time for some kind of cheating mischief in desperation – watched and witnessed in shameless amazement of public contempt.
If they want to tell citizenry that they are NOT good enough to contest openly even after the GRC abuse, the public will get the message that they know they are incapable and unfit to govern.
IT MAY BACKFIRE BADLY ON THEM.
Ask yourself – would you trust me with your life and money if you know that I am deviously cunning of truth and ALSO ADMIT TO YOU PUBLICLY TO BE CUNNING OF TRUTH.??
Voters today are NOT so stupid nor patronising of unsavoury behaviours, I would suspect.
@Oh Now We Get it, how rightfully true indeed.
On a personal note, though I am not legally trained, I would really LOVED to see how the ‘within 200 metres’ AG and his bunch of million dollars ‘colleagues’ draft PM’s intent into a law thats feasible and sensible to maintain given the vast areas the law will have to ‘cover’.
Oppos. ought to follow the rule on this “cooling” day ….
Be very Careful and mindful.
May God bless everyone …
the person to watch on the next GE “cooling day” (if become law)
Dx Chxx
will he comes out to spoilt the show again ???
Cooling off day = opposition shut down and sit up while
Shitty Times continues campaigning for their papas.
How sweet!!
thinknot on Fri, 4th Dec 2009 3:02 pm
“Cooling off day = opposition shut down and sit up while
Shitty Times continues campaigning for their papas.
How sweet!!”
IT WOULD NOT BE SO SWEET IF WE TURN A WISPERING CAMPAIGN INTO A ROAR OF THUNDER.
How do we do that?? Very easy!! Just greet your close friends who ring up on you or you ring on them for any other reason/s on “cooling day ” Hello Kangaroos, are you COOL today?”
How does this great idea grabs everyone?
thinknot on Fri, 4th Dec 2009 3:02 pm
“Cooling off day = opposition shut down and sit up while
Shitty Times continues campaigning for their papas.
How sweet!!”
IT WOULD NOT BE SO SWEET IF WE TURN A WISPERING CAMPAIGN INTO A ROAR OF THUNDER.
How do we do that?? Very easy!! Just greet your close friends who ring up on you or you ring on them for any other reason/s on “cooling day ” Hello Kangaroos, are you COOL today?”
How does this great idea grabs everyone?
Sinkapoor’s elections are already so cool they
are dead cold. Any cooler and we’ll all freeze.
How about heating them up a little by being and
playing a little fair. Just a little fairness,
if you know how.
My money is on the GE being held sometime during the mid school holiday, VERY LIKELY June 2010.
Anyone disagree?
Sinkapore on Sun, 6th Dec 2009 3:20 am
Possibly yes. They are testing “cooling off” day “law” by ANNOUNCEMENT to test the litmus response. If no protest, I would believe by year end.
But with the kind of volcanics in cyberspace, I believe they are fleeing the red hot zone of lava flow for now to rework their “strategy”.
If you noticed, they play different subtle tune now – less of carrot feeding ( the LUP shit hit the fan), immigration quiet down, more HDB for housing etc etc ALL NOT WORKING for them – more women issues, more talk of Singapore venture abroad as if external economic arm grows overnight in dramatisation, inducement for civil servant pay-out, of course “cooling off period” from AFAR of irrelevant audience and I heard of subsidised Christmas party by RCs previously unheard of etc. etc. etc. OTHER STRANGE BEHAVIOURS in relation to SDPs.
They need each public anger issue to simmer off from melting point to “cooler” temperature.
You could be right.