Under The Angsana Tree: GE2020: Cooling-Off Day

LupSup Politics

Vote Wisely

The Cockles of our Hearts

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES ON COOLING-OFF DAY AND POLLING DAY

The following acts are not allowed on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day:

Publication and display of election advertising not already lawfully displayed or published
Canvassing, door-to-door visits, visiting homes and workplaces of voters in connection with the election
Wearing badges/symbols, using, carrying or displaying political propaganda (only the candidate is allowed to wear the party badge or a replica of the symbol allotted to him)
Holding of election meetings.

Candidates should therefore refrain from visiting their constituents or attending public events within their constituencies on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day. However, attending religious ceremonies or worship services, or attending functions in the course of work or employment would still be permissible.

Exceptions to Prohibitions - There are some exceptions to the prohibition of campaign activities on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day:

Party political broadcasts on television
Reports in the newspapers, on radio and television relating to election matters
Approved posters and banners that were already up, and lawful Internet advertising that was already in place before the start of Cooling-off Day
Books previously scheduled for publication
The transmission of personal political views by an individual to another individual, on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means
Candidates may continue to wear party logos/badges indicating his affiliation with a political party or a replica of the symbol allotted to him or to the group of candidates to which he belongs.

read more

What happens on Cooling-Off Day?

The day before Polling Day is known as Cooling-Off Day. There is a prohibition against election campaigning during this 24-hour period to give voters some time to reflect rationally on issues before voting.

However, there are exceptions to the prohibition of campaign activities on Cooling-Off Day:

Party political broadcasts on television
Reports in the newspapers, on radio and television relating to election matters
Approved posters and banners that were already up, and lawful Internet advertising that was already published before the eve of Polling Day
Books previously scheduled for publication
The transmission of personal political views by individuals to other individuals, on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means
Such activities or circumstances as may be prescribed by the Minister.

This list, except for party political broadcast, also applies to Polling Day.

read more

Cooling-off Day

The first Cooling-off Day was implemented for Singapore’s general election in 2011. No campaigning activities are allowed on Cooling-off Day, which is designated as the day before polling day to give voters time to think rationally and reflect on the issues that were raised during the campaigning period.

Debates in Parliament
The idea of a “cooling-off” period during elections was first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in November 2009. The proposal resulted from another set of election changes that was to increase the maximum number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament from six to nine. This move was expected to intensify the contest during elections, and thus a “cooling-off” period was recommended to calm emotions for rational voting, and to lower the risk of public disorder. However, the proposal was rejected unanimously by opposition party leaders, who argued that the ruling political party would have an unfair advantage by disguising political messages in mass media as “news” items from the government. Those who opposed the bill also contended that the worry of public disorder was unfounded, as Singaporeans were rational voters and were not prone to causing public disorder during opposition rallies.

Rules on Cooling-off Day
After vigorous debating, the Cooling-off Day proposal was approved in Parliament on 27 April 2010. Amendments were made to both the Parliamentary Elections Act and Presidential Elections Act, which introduced Cooling-off Day on the eve of Polling Day, and the minimum period between Nomination Day and Polling Day was to be increased by one day as a result of the introduction of Cooling-off Day. The prohibition of election advertising on Polling Day was also extended to include Cooling-off Day.

read more

COMPLETE LIST OF ALL MPS WHO RETIRED IN GE2020

This year, despite that pesky coronavirus roaming around the country, Singapore will have a General Election, with just 9 days until voters cast their ballots. While we’ve seen many new faces enter the political arena, many others have bid goodbye after years and even decades of service.

During the launch of the People’s Action Party’s manifesto on Saturday (27 Jun), PM Lee announced that 20 MPs will retire this year. 20 MPs from PAP, that is. If you take into account the three from the Worker’s Party (WP), that number goes up to 23.

20 PAP:

Ang Hin Kee (two terms), Ang Mo Kio GRC
Chia Shi-Lu (two terms), Tanjong Pagar GRC
Charles Chong (seven terms), Punggol East SMC
Fatimah Lateef (three terms), Marine Parade GRC
Cedric Foo Chee Keng (four terms), Pioneer SMC
Goh Chok Tong (10 terms), Marine Parade GRC
Intan Azura Mokhtar (two terms), Ang Mo Kio GRC
Khaw Boon Wan (four terms), Sembawang GRC
Lee Bee Wah (three terms), Nee Soon GRC
Lee Yi Shyan (three terms), East Coast GRC
Lim Hng Kiang (six terms), West Coast GRC
Lim Swee Say (five terms), East Coast GRC
Lily Neo (five terms), Jalan Besar GRC
Ong Teng Koon (two terms), Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC
Sam Tan (three terms), Radin Mas SMC
Teo Ho Pin (five terms), Bukit Panjang SMC
Teo Ser Luck (three terms), Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
Yaacob Ibrahim (five terms), Jalan Besar GRC
Yee Chia Hsing (one term), Choa Chu Kang GRC
Zainal Sapari (two terms), Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

3 WP:

Chen Show Mao (Aljunied GRC) (One Term)
Low Thia Khiang (Hougang SMC, Aljunied GRC) (6 Terms)
Png Eng Huat (Hougang SMC) (One Term)

read more

Profiles of PAP's 27 new candidates

The People's Action Party (PAP) on Friday (June 26) introduced eight more new candidates to contest the election on July 10.

With this round of introductions, the PAP has in all unveiled 27 new faces for the upcoming polls. Previously it had said it would present 26 new candidates.

Here's a look at the candidates' profiles:

DESMOND TAN KOK MING, 50 (Former People's Association head)
EDWARD CHIA BING HUI, 36 (Co-founder/managing director Timbre Group)
NADIA AHMAD SAMDIN, 30 (Associate director at TSMP Law Corporation)
DON WEE BOON HONG, 43 (Senior vice-president at UOB)
MOHD FAHMI ALIMAN, 48 (Former Islamic Religious Council of S'pore DCE)
YIP HON WENG, 43 (Former group chief of Silver Generation Office)
HANY SOH HUI BIN, 33 (Director at MSC Law Corporation)
DR TAN SEE LENG, 55 (Former Parkway Holdings Group chief executive)
TAN KIAT HOW, 43 (Former IMDA chief executive)
NG LING LING, 48 (Former managing director of Community Chest)
ZHULKARNAIN ABDUL RAHIM, 39 (Lawyer)
MS YEO WAN LING, 44 (Chief executive of social enterprise Caregiver Asia)
MR ALVIN TAN SHENG HUI, 39 (Head Public Policy Economics @ LinkedIn)
DR WAN RIZAL WAN ZAKARIAH, 42 (Senior lecturer Republic Polytechnic)
MR ERIC CHUA SWEE LEONG, 41 (Former director SGSecure programme)
MR RAYMOND LYE HOONG YIP, 54 (Managing partner at Union Law LLP)
MS POH LI SAN, 44 (VP for Terminal 5 planning at Changi Airport Group)
MR DERRICK GOH SOON HEE, 51 (MD & head of group audit at DBS Bank)
MS GAN SIOW HUANG, 46 (Former air force brigadier-general)
MS RACHEL ONG SIN YEN, 47 (Rohei chief executive)
MR MOHD SHARAEL TAHA, 39 (VP strategy/project management S'pore Aero)
MR ALEX YEO SHENG CHYE, 41 (Director at Niru & Co LLC)
MS MARIAM JAAFAR, 43 (S'pore MD & partner for Boston Consulting Group)
MR SHAWN HUANG, 37 (Director enterprise development Temasek Holdings)
MS CHAN HUI YUH, 44 (Marketing director)
MS CARRIE TAN, 38 (Founding ED of charity Daughters of Tomorrow)
MR XIE YAO QUAN, 35 (Head of healthcare redesign at Alexandra Hospital)

read more

Netizens said that elderly Woman distributing Flyers look familiar

A man took a video of an elderly woman distributing flyers at a public area, due to wearing of personal protective gear many are not able to identify who she is.

read more

A young voter