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Cooling-Off Day
In the electrifying months leading up to the watershed 2011 General Elections and in the tumultuous months after, playwright Alfian Sa’at interviewed Singaporeans to discover their responses to the elections.
Covering a wide social and political spectrum, the candid interviews capture the GE experience through the voices of individual Singaporeans — from election candidates to pro-establishment civil servants; from taxi-drivers to teachers; from diehard opposition supporters to young people casting their virgin votes.
These interviews — some hopeful, some fearful, some hilariously frank, some achingly honest — form a portrait of Singaporeans confronting the real meaning of democracy and rediscovering their role in shaping the country’s future.
Covering a wide social and political spectrum, the candid interviews capture the GE experience through the voices of individual Singaporeans — from election candidates to pro-establishment civil servants; from taxi-drivers to teachers; from diehard opposition supporters to young people casting their virgin votes.
These interviews — some hopeful, some fearful, some hilariously frank, some achingly honest — form a portrait of Singaporeans confronting the real meaning of democracy and rediscovering their role in shaping the country’s future.
148 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 15, 2020
We read Cooling-Off Day for a book club session with No Readgrets, a local book club. This is a month after a hastily announced 2020 General Elections, smack-bang in the middle of the lockdown, the mask-wearing, the solo trips to the supermarket, the work zoom calls, the frantic election fever with a significant swing towards the opposition, the unapologetic appearances by our Minister of Manpower sweeping aside human rights concerns for migrant workers in Singapore, the feverish social media posts and the rise in the voice of the next generation of voters who are currently still too young to vote...
Safe to say it was an exhausting month for all of us.
Besides Covid though, I was slightly letdown to find out that everything else has happened before in the 'watershed' elections in 2011. And it was artfully captured back then by Alfian Sa'at.
There is very little space for discussion of politics in Singapore, a fact that many of my acquaintances from other countries are surprised to find out. What little space is usually artificially carved out and heavily monitored. Which is what makes material like Cooling-Off Day so important.
Cooling-Off Day is a play that portrays different opinions and voices from residents of all walks of life. What I appreciate is that Alfian takes care to include all types of opinions and voices from before, during, and after the elections. They spoke about their hopes and dreams for this election, their criticism, their worship for the government, their distaste for dissenting views, their outrage at injustice, and more.
We discussed the concept of cooling-off day, which seemed unique to Singapore. Other countries also practice election silence, which is a period of time between the campaigning and the voting period. There has been divided views on it worldwide, but given the context of pervasive paternalism by the Singapore government, we viewed it as yet another way to signal to the population that we are 'irrational' and needed reminders from the government to cool down and make the right choice, which you can hazard a guess as to which it was. (This is of course coupled with the fact that our campaigning period has always been the minimum which the constitution allows, which is 9 days. 9 days for opposition parties to campaign while the ruling party has established years of trust with the population.)
One of the plays that I resonated with was based off a real person, Teo Soh Lung, a lawyer who detained and held without trial for 2 years for being involved in the alleged Marxist Conspiracy in 1987.
A must-read for all Singaporeans.
Safe to say it was an exhausting month for all of us.
Besides Covid though, I was slightly letdown to find out that everything else has happened before in the 'watershed' elections in 2011. And it was artfully captured back then by Alfian Sa'at.
There is very little space for discussion of politics in Singapore, a fact that many of my acquaintances from other countries are surprised to find out. What little space is usually artificially carved out and heavily monitored. Which is what makes material like Cooling-Off Day so important.
Cooling-Off Day is a play that portrays different opinions and voices from residents of all walks of life. What I appreciate is that Alfian takes care to include all types of opinions and voices from before, during, and after the elections. They spoke about their hopes and dreams for this election, their criticism, their worship for the government, their distaste for dissenting views, their outrage at injustice, and more.
We discussed the concept of cooling-off day, which seemed unique to Singapore. Other countries also practice election silence, which is a period of time between the campaigning and the voting period. There has been divided views on it worldwide, but given the context of pervasive paternalism by the Singapore government, we viewed it as yet another way to signal to the population that we are 'irrational' and needed reminders from the government to cool down and make the right choice, which you can hazard a guess as to which it was. (This is of course coupled with the fact that our campaigning period has always been the minimum which the constitution allows, which is 9 days. 9 days for opposition parties to campaign while the ruling party has established years of trust with the population.)
One of the plays that I resonated with was based off a real person, Teo Soh Lung, a lawyer who detained and held without trial for 2 years for being involved in the alleged Marxist Conspiracy in 1987.
"This cannot go on forever.
How can it be that
Politics should be a taboo subject?"
A must-read for all Singaporeans.
March 6, 2022
very fun read! my favourite parts:
- we have to ride on their shoulders
- because there’s this deep hunger: “it’s a hunger that bread and butter will not satisfy”
- we have set the agenda
- 81 out of 90: statistical manipulation speedrun
- hottest head of state 🌟
- my secret
- there’s no such thing as being apolitical
- 水高了，我就跟着上去 (this in particular is interesting because at first i thought: why not 水涨船高? but then there’s also the saying 水能载舟，亦能覆舟——usually the govt is compared to the boat and the people to the water, but here it’s reversed. something new): 你还想要什么？要李光耀喂你吃饭吗？
- the stall next door 🌟
- but the east is different: lowkey convinced that the east is superior to the west now
- why is change so difficult 🌟
- it’s just one person’s life 🌟
- we have to ride on their shoulders
- because there’s this deep hunger: “it’s a hunger that bread and butter will not satisfy”
- we have set the agenda
- 81 out of 90: statistical manipulation speedrun
- hottest head of state 🌟
- my secret
- there’s no such thing as being apolitical
- 水高了，我就跟着上去 (this in particular is interesting because at first i thought: why not 水涨船高? but then there’s also the saying 水能载舟，亦能覆舟——usually the govt is compared to the boat and the people to the water, but here it’s reversed. something new): 你还想要什么？要李光耀喂你吃饭吗？
- the stall next door 🌟
- but the east is different: lowkey convinced that the east is superior to the west now
- why is change so difficult 🌟
- it’s just one person’s life 🌟
August 8, 2020
It was such a fabulous play - I learnt so much.
September 2, 2020
Alfian is the voice of our generation.
November 14, 2020
A wonderful, wonderful book. Makes you really think. Provides a surprisingly balanced viewpoint of what we experience in the singaporean political landscape.
August 28, 2021
favourite pieces:
- an adult version of ourselves
- there's no such thing as being apolitical
- this is not your place anymore
- you cannot sustain the heart
- and the word is 'kiasu'
- an adult version of ourselves
- there's no such thing as being apolitical
- this is not your place anymore
- you cannot sustain the heart
- and the word is 'kiasu'
August 2, 2019
Here is my #bookreview of 'Cooling Off Day' by Alfian Saat 📕 The moment I finished this play, I wanted to review it and talk about it to everyone I know!! It is a VERY important read 💡
This is a play about Singapore, in all of its richness and multiple perspectives, on the one essential human right in a democratic system: voting 🗳 In SG, we are given a day to literally "cool off" and gain our rationality before we vote (cause yknw, voting is a rational act right?? 🤔 lol) After the 2011 elections, this play was staged in 2012 after examining the multitudes of voices living on this red dot. Much to my surprise, I definitely found a voice in several of the counter-narratives in this literary work 📌
I loved how brilliant Alfian Saat's work here is, in providing local voices in a political arena 🇸🇬 Bringing entertainment into politics (or politics into entertainment), this is truly a necessary piece of work that raises issues, ranging from the fast-changing pace of Singapore's progress to the realities, and dangers, of having a one-party government. In my opinion, people need an opportunity to hear what others are saying, loud and clear. You know, like living in an actual democracy 🤷🏽♀️
There is not much more I can say, except that I WISH I had managed to catch this play live on stage. I can't believe I had not read this book any sooner. If you haven't read this, especially if you're living and/or working in Singapore, you have to pick it up soon 🔥
This is a play about Singapore, in all of its richness and multiple perspectives, on the one essential human right in a democratic system: voting 🗳 In SG, we are given a day to literally "cool off" and gain our rationality before we vote (cause yknw, voting is a rational act right?? 🤔 lol) After the 2011 elections, this play was staged in 2012 after examining the multitudes of voices living on this red dot. Much to my surprise, I definitely found a voice in several of the counter-narratives in this literary work 📌
I loved how brilliant Alfian Saat's work here is, in providing local voices in a political arena 🇸🇬 Bringing entertainment into politics (or politics into entertainment), this is truly a necessary piece of work that raises issues, ranging from the fast-changing pace of Singapore's progress to the realities, and dangers, of having a one-party government. In my opinion, people need an opportunity to hear what others are saying, loud and clear. You know, like living in an actual democracy 🤷🏽♀️
There is not much more I can say, except that I WISH I had managed to catch this play live on stage. I can't believe I had not read this book any sooner. If you haven't read this, especially if you're living and/or working in Singapore, you have to pick it up soon 🔥
August 1, 2020
Took me a while to get used to the many many characters and voices in the book. Did a book club discussion of this book and I had a hard time trying to distill my thoughts. That's not the fault of the author, though. What makes this book a worthwhile read is the opportunity it gives me to ruminate about the political atmosphere in Singapore and to ask myself about the kind of Singapore I want. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a stake in this island and is eligible to vote.
July 11, 2020
"Because there's this deep hunger
To be part of the political process
To register your voice
To speak up and be counted.
And it's a hunger that
Bread and butter
Will not satisfy."
▪︎
Fun(?) fact: Public servants must not blog, post, or publish their political opinions. So there's really no need to assume an individual is apathetic about politics simply because nothing appears on his/ her Facebook or IG stories and posts. According to Gov.sg, '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.' It seems that we're observing Cooling-Off Day quite literally on this rainy Thursday.
▪︎
'Cooling-Off Day' by Alfian Sa'at is based on interviews conducted by the playwright in the months leading up to the 2011 General Elections and in the months after. A thought-provoking play, it effectively captures different perspectives from both sides - the governing party and the opposition - and runs the gamut from the jaded to the fervent and everything in between. A must-read for every concerned citizen and voter. 4.3 stars.
To be part of the political process
To register your voice
To speak up and be counted.
And it's a hunger that
Bread and butter
Will not satisfy."
▪︎
Fun(?) fact: Public servants must not blog, post, or publish their political opinions. So there's really no need to assume an individual is apathetic about politics simply because nothing appears on his/ her Facebook or IG stories and posts. According to Gov.sg, '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.' It seems that we're observing Cooling-Off Day quite literally on this rainy Thursday.
▪︎
'Cooling-Off Day' by Alfian Sa'at is based on interviews conducted by the playwright in the months leading up to the 2011 General Elections and in the months after. A thought-provoking play, it effectively captures different perspectives from both sides - the governing party and the opposition - and runs the gamut from the jaded to the fervent and everything in between. A must-read for every concerned citizen and voter. 4.3 stars.
July 14, 2021
I think this book caters to a wide range of audiences, and you can see yourself in some of the characters presented, which was nice. I unsurprisingly, resonated with the younger characters or students. Act I's first character, Daphne, 'Anything Can Happen' captured my attention and had me reflecting on the narratives frequently presented during GE, when the topic of voting for the opposition is brought up. The way it was structured also provided almost mindless contrasts and reflection points, which I found to be extremely helpful. Further on in the book, there are mentions of significant political events and history and also common critiques of Singapore's identity//community which I felt required a bit more background context to understand, so foreign audiences/context-less readers may struggle a little more.
April 11, 2022
Cooling off day was written after the 2011 elections when the government decided that Singaporeans needed a day to cool off from political speeches to be able to think rationally. Written as a play but in a style that could be read a poetry, read about what Singaporeans of every diverse background and what their stance are on politics - do they support the ruling party? What do they think of opposition?
Do away with right-wing and left-wing politics of America - Cooling off day sets it’s political context in Singapore, on real words but real Singaporeans through interviews by Alfian Sa’at who later compiled into this book.
Allow this book to start conversation about politics with your friends, to start thinking about raising your voice - Alfian Sa’at truly allows young minds to start thinking about politics in a country where everyone seems to be passive consumers of politics.
Do away with right-wing and left-wing politics of America - Cooling off day sets it’s political context in Singapore, on real words but real Singaporeans through interviews by Alfian Sa’at who later compiled into this book.
Allow this book to start conversation about politics with your friends, to start thinking about raising your voice - Alfian Sa’at truly allows young minds to start thinking about politics in a country where everyone seems to be passive consumers of politics.
September 26, 2020
A play showcasing different Singaporeans' opinions about the electoral climate in Singapore. I thought a good range was displayed and many of the opinions I found familiar. I find it kind of funny that the three most incisive and, from a vantage point of nine years on, prescient pieces were from two people, one a civil servant (the one who really loves the East Side) and one an ex-civil servant (who talked about structural barriers to change). Despite criticising how the government is set up to promote many of the same type of people and becoming prone to stale groupthink, I feel like they as insiders had the best grasp on how the system works and what will happen next, or what needs to happen next.
May 17, 2025
Sa’at did an amazing job presenting all the different sides of Singapore’s political views! I saw every almost single angles and points of view, from PAP supporters to Opposition supporters, and even some perspectives that preferred not to support either side. This book was insightful, to say the least, and I resonated with so many of the opinions. This quick 2-hour read (I finished over the course of a few days as I did not have 2 hours to spare at one go) will leave you with political insights that you may not have even considered in the first place, and I would definitely recommend it to any Singaporean who wants to become more well-read.
June 22, 2018
the anthro major in me who loves hearing other people's stories geeked out the whole time. the best part was hearing the individual voices, accents, and languages in my head as i devoured the play while surrounded by these the people of Singapore on the MRT. i've never been interested much in Singaporean politics because i've found it so boring (the same people always win anyway), especially compared to the exponentially more 'exciting' things happening politically across the Causeway. this makes me look forward so much to voting for the first time in 2021. ubah.
December 27, 2020
I like how this book doesn’t tell, but show - having heard multiple views across age groups, races and professions, the reader gets to form his own opinion on the elections and state of governance at large. Some quotable remarks and unique perspectives - the congregation of which becomes extremely powerful. What helps is also that given it is a play, its choice of narrative directly engages and speaks to readers - you can almost imagine the whole play unfolding in your head. Easy read, finished in one setting.
July 12, 2020
You can almost hear the Singaporean accents from this book and it really speaks to the average Singaporean, whether they may be pro-establishment or opposition. A must-read if you are interested in Singapore politics. The book talks about the aftermath of the 2011 elections, but I do think it is relevant all the time since politics does not just happen during elections. In short: Read it!
April 15, 2025
a little time capsule from the watershed elections of 2011, captured from Alfian's interviews with singaporeans in that period. interesting to observe what has changed since (role of social media, local community networks) and what hasnt (death penalty, attitude of ruling party, existence of cooling off day itself)
April 21, 2020
Easy read on the perspectives of the 2011 elections.
"I think my son's generation they won't stop working to pay off everything.
They won't know what it means to be retired.
They will only know what it means to be tired."
"I think my son's generation they won't stop working to pay off everything.
They won't know what it means to be retired.
They will only know what it means to be tired."
August 9, 2017
Really enjoyed this local book, full of the Singaporean flavour and spirit
May 27, 2020
What a gem of a play. It’s a pity I couldn’t manage to catch it when it was staged. Reading it and imagining it being performed really gave me goosebumps. I need to read his other plays.
July 21, 2020
Maybe coz I haven’t watched the play.
Re-stage it please
Re-stage it please
August 3, 2020
Wasn't impressed.
July 17, 2021
i wish i could've watched this live
August 28, 2021
Fantastic collection of stories showing the breadth and depth of Singaporeans’ thoughts and ideas about civil society and the past, present, and future of Singapore.
March 18, 2022
I am not sure whether i read this in 2020 or 2021 so sue me anw I got started with its extracts back in 19
May 1, 2023
this was brilliant. the last few speeches were very moving.
March 17, 2025
#NSReads 79
We really should do an update every GE... anyway am very inspired to have my COD era I cannot unsee the vision
We really should do an update every GE... anyway am very inspired to have my COD era I cannot unsee the vision
May 1, 2025
Read this the day before cooling off day cause on cooling off day I cannot post that I read anything political.
August 15, 2020
An illuminating play that surfaces the many gripes and contentions that the supposedly apoliticised "silent majority" bear. If anything, it is a strong reminder that we all have a part to play in shaping Singapore's future, whether we think we can, or not.
September 1, 2015
Do yourself a favour and pick this up from your library, even if its the first non textbook you've touched since reading period in primary school.
The issues and ideas of 4 years ago are no less pertinent today, but to have a common conversation, there has to be a common platform, a shared space of ideas and touchstones.
You may not agree with every opinion expressed within it (nor should you oftentimes they are opposed to each other so you'll end up being diagnosed with dissociative personality disorder or a compulsive need to agree), but it certainly serves to broaden one's perspective.
Some nice quotes:
I'm not sure about democracy sometimes.
They say its supposed to reflect
The will of the people.
But when I was having that conversation
With my friends
It seemed as if it was more about
The whims of the people.
Because I don't think many young Singaporeans
Know what they want at all.
Maybe they're more sure
About what it is that they don't want.
When people say that they want
An opposition in Parliament
What they're saying is that
They don't want PAP to be the only party.
-Anything Can Happen, p.15
When the first thing you want to blame
is race.
The people shouldn't ask why
Always got that makcik
In the PAP photo.
They should ask, who is the photographer
Who go and take that photo.
Who is the newspaper editor
Who want to show that photo.
Because that is politics.
-They Like To See People Fight, p.52
The West is basically a post-PAP Singapore
It's all the stuff that the PAP built up
When they cleared the swamps.
-But the East is Different, p. 100
But what this would mean is that somehow
Easties have this history
Where the East has been settled in
Much longer, way before
The PAP came into the picture.
So they know that people have lived there
Before the PAP, and can also continue
Living their lives without the PAP.
There isn't this dependency.
That's why I think the government
Isn't really interested in preserving
Our built heritage
When you erase these reminders of our past
You create a people with very short memories.
And those with short memories
Are much easier to manipulate.
-But the East is Different, p. 101
The danger of elite governance
That is basically premised on attracting the best and brightest people
Into our political ranks,
The cognitive dissonance from saying
'We were wrong' is too great.
It's far more comforting to say that:
"Fundamentally our policies were right,
We just need to communicate them better,
We just need to tweak them at the margins,
There's nothing broken
With the system of governance."
So that's the problem of having leaders
Who are all of the same type.
All of them are over-achieving technocrats, scholars,
So it's a very condescending mode of engagement:
"I tell you, I explain to you,
If people talk to me,
They will come around to my point of view".
It's amazing!
There's none of that open-mindedness,
That flexibility of mind.
-Why Is Change So Difficult? p.106
(especially resonant after national day)
I'm a firm believer that
You've got to love your neighbourhood,
You love your community,
And then you love your nation.
You don't start from loving your nation first.
That's going backwards.
Nobody does that.
Except for the PAP.
-You Cannot Sustain The Heart, p.117
The issues and ideas of 4 years ago are no less pertinent today, but to have a common conversation, there has to be a common platform, a shared space of ideas and touchstones.
You may not agree with every opinion expressed within it (nor should you oftentimes they are opposed to each other so you'll end up being diagnosed with dissociative personality disorder or a compulsive need to agree), but it certainly serves to broaden one's perspective.
Some nice quotes:
I'm not sure about democracy sometimes.
They say its supposed to reflect
The will of the people.
But when I was having that conversation
With my friends
It seemed as if it was more about
The whims of the people.
Because I don't think many young Singaporeans
Know what they want at all.
Maybe they're more sure
About what it is that they don't want.
When people say that they want
An opposition in Parliament
What they're saying is that
They don't want PAP to be the only party.
-Anything Can Happen, p.15
When the first thing you want to blame
is race.
The people shouldn't ask why
Always got that makcik
In the PAP photo.
They should ask, who is the photographer
Who go and take that photo.
Who is the newspaper editor
Who want to show that photo.
Because that is politics.
-They Like To See People Fight, p.52
The West is basically a post-PAP Singapore
It's all the stuff that the PAP built up
When they cleared the swamps.
-But the East is Different, p. 100
But what this would mean is that somehow
Easties have this history
Where the East has been settled in
Much longer, way before
The PAP came into the picture.
So they know that people have lived there
Before the PAP, and can also continue
Living their lives without the PAP.
There isn't this dependency.
That's why I think the government
Isn't really interested in preserving
Our built heritage
When you erase these reminders of our past
You create a people with very short memories.
And those with short memories
Are much easier to manipulate.
-But the East is Different, p. 101
The danger of elite governance
That is basically premised on attracting the best and brightest people
Into our political ranks,
The cognitive dissonance from saying
'We were wrong' is too great.
It's far more comforting to say that:
"Fundamentally our policies were right,
We just need to communicate them better,
We just need to tweak them at the margins,
There's nothing broken
With the system of governance."
So that's the problem of having leaders
Who are all of the same type.
All of them are over-achieving technocrats, scholars,
So it's a very condescending mode of engagement:
"I tell you, I explain to you,
If people talk to me,
They will come around to my point of view".
It's amazing!
There's none of that open-mindedness,
That flexibility of mind.
-Why Is Change So Difficult? p.106
(especially resonant after national day)
I'm a firm believer that
You've got to love your neighbourhood,
You love your community,
And then you love your nation.
You don't start from loving your nation first.
That's going backwards.
Nobody does that.
Except for the PAP.
-You Cannot Sustain The Heart, p.117
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews