Darren Boon
Turning up in full force (which include several founding members) to set right the inaccuracies lay out by the new AWARE team.
In a press conference on Friday evening, several veteran stalwarts from AWARE turned up to clarify several issues and accusations raised by the new AWARE team a day earlier.
Apart from the familiar faces of Dana Lim and Constance Singam, was Dr Kanwaljit Soin who broke her silence in public on the AWARE debacle. Dr Soin was one of the founding members of AWARE, and the president of AWARE from 1991 to 1993. She had also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore from 1992 to 1996.
“As far as I know AWARE has not deviated from its original purpose,” Dr Soin said.
Dr Soin had made it clear that AWARE had been founded on the principle of inclusiveness, and clarified the misconception of AWARE being pro-gay. “We cannot condemn, deny or exclude any woman because of her sexual orientation, because she’s been abused by her husband or because she’s a single mother. And so we accept people for what they are,” she said.
Dr Soin said that AWARE is an organisation for women that supports the idea of women choosing the lives they want in another founding principle of ‘Women’s Lives, Women’s Choices’ or ‘Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives’. Dr Soin added that AWARE will offer support to women who approach the organisation for assistance.
Corinna Lim rubbished the talk that the screening of the lesbian movie Spider Lilies showed that AWARE is single-focused and gay-oriented. Lim pointed out that AWARE had also participated in other movie screenings such as the wholesome local family film Singapore Dreaming.
Lim explained that film distributors have approached AWARE to tie-up for charity events and sees this as a good fundraising activity for AWARE. Terms and conditions vary requiring AWARE to sometimes purchase advance tickets or publicising the membership, with AWARE taking a small profit.
Dr Soin also explained there’s a need to address the issue of homosexuality in its sexual education programmes if the programmes are to be comprehensive: “AWARE cannot be an ostrich and buries it head and pretends that it [homosexuality] doesn’t exist. But we don’t go out with this programme and say it’s okay to be lesbian.”
Constance Singam said that the sexual education programmes were introduced in the context of the increasing number of teenage sex, pregnancies and abortions three to four years ago.
“AWARE is not a religious organisation. We do not impose religious values,” Singam said.
She added: “What we are offering are the facts. Kids need space for open discussion where they can get facts, examine themselves, and that is the purpose, objective.”
Dana Lam explained that the education programme had been developed over a period of time with pilot workshops conducted with parental knowledge and involvement. “And we have received good feedback,” she said. “The mention of homosexuality is so miniscule compared to the whole topic.”
Meanwhile, the veterans have also clarified its process for its selection of trainers. In the pre-selection process, candidates have to go through an interview and essay-writing round. After the training programme, the trainers have to go through examinations.
AWARE has so far provided its sexual education training programmes to 12 schools, some of which had approached AWARE to conduct the programmes. The veterans also clarified that the schools have full knowledge of the programmes with teachers having seen and vetted the them before they were given the go ahead. An opt-out form is also provided for those who do not feel comfortable participating in the programmes.
Also present was Veronica Wong who attested to the stringent standards and audits of AWARE having been interviewed by the Public Education Committee and an audit panel of parents and school counsellors before a module for Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) Programme was approved. Wong’s programme was designed to get teenagers to understand their basic needs in relation to engaging in sexual behaviour, and getting them to self-evaluate if their behaviour helps or hurts them in satisfying their basic needs.
Wong who is Roman Catholic initially found it unsettling to educate youths about contraceptives and condoms: “Nevertheless, I also realise the kids don’t have much of a fighting chance working on just ‘abstinence’ alone. And teaching them protection in safe sex is still not enough.”
The old guards clarified that teachers and social workers have audited the programme and AWARE has its own auditing process and when necessary made modifications.
Dr Soin also defended her decision to allow associate male members in AWARE. “I realise we cannot change the world for women until we bring the men on board. So we have to work with men hand in hand to change society into a more equal, compassionate and inclusive society.”
The claim that the old guards’ AWARE was trying to get men into the organisation was “inaccurate”, they said. The issue of giving men voting rights first surfaced at the 2008 AGM. A motion was tabled for this purpose but it was defeated. However, it was brought up again at the AGM in March 2009 where the new exco was voted in. At this meeting, the “election took the bulk of the time” and the issue was not debated.
Meanwhile Dr Soin said while she knows who the founding members of AWARE were, she is unaware of any involvement of Dr Thio Su Mien.
“I’ve not heard of Dr Thio Su Mien as being a feminist, so this was a little bit of a surprise for me. But then, we always have closet feminists,” Dr Soin said to laughter from those present.
In her tenure as an NMP in 1995, Dr Soin tabled a Family Violence Bill as a Private Member’s Bill in parliament. The Bill would allow for the protection of victims against family violence and marital rape and police intervention. Although the bill fell through, the issue on family violence has gained public awareness and prominence. The Women’s Charter was later amended by the Singapore government in 1997 and adapted principles and concepts from the proposed Family Violence Bill which gave women more protection from violence.
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hope the old guard can do something next sat.
It is ironical at a time like this, the new guards are still not reflecting on their actions despite the massive public backlash. They give the impression that they are victimised by the media, the public and old guards…and at the same time,they question the world for the public backlash…
My friends, it is time for reality check, Also interestingly, the backlash does not come from the homosexuals. Rather it is pretty much from general public. Isn’t this telling enough?
I applaud the old guards for the clarity of their vision and their composure in this saga. And I appeal to them to stay firm on their ground, and not let the new guards trample over such an established organisation.
The coherence and common sense in these womens’ arguments comes as a breath of fresh air – and it also raises an interesting question about management style.
Dogmatic religious beliefs are clearly no impediment to success in the corporate world, as the c.v.s of Josie Lau et al amply demonstrate – but bringing some of the less savoury aspects of corporate culture to bear on the running of a civil society group clearly doesn’t wash so well.
One senses from the tone of the coverage in today’s Straits Times that the tide is turning against the new Aware Exco on the part of all but the most fervent of their co-religionists (here’s looking at you, Andy Ho and Peace). Homophobic bigotry is one thing, but unfortunately it’s all too common in Singapore’s public culture, so not news as such. Subterfuge, rigid hierarchies, the sycophancy of underlings, summary dismissals, executive privilege, playing hardball, brink’man’ship, hostile takeovers, wrecking tactics, disinformation, playing the victim, the empty rhetoric of aspiration, aggressive networking, and the self-selecting homogeneity of elites: that’s no way to achieve meaningful and lasting change in as diverse and complex a social context as Singapore’s.
If these distasteful things must happen at all, they should be confined to the Boardroom, where they belong. The Old Guard should rightly be chastened by recent events – but they need only remain true to themselves to win the argument.
They have appointed another new member – from the same church of our saviour:
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/316009.asp
“Aware has appointed a new manager, Ms Magdalene Teo, a member of Church of Our Saviour.”
Wow what great time ahead. Old guards and new guards – take my hats to Singaporean women for speaking up and doing what they feel with courage and conviction. Come next saturday, Singapore women will make their choice known and perhaps the spotlight could turn to the guys
I wish the Singaporean man can be energised too to have the male version of “aware” instead of being mainly armchair commentator.
Guys no guts… haha. Serve NS only.
I’m proud of the old guard… they’ve got the power and the guts to stand up and fight for their rights and what they believe unlike the new guards who sneak up from behind. The govt must be really afraid now that this is spilling over to society. I thought lesbians and gays did not exist in the eyes of the govt.
#6
We serve NS, with our blood and sweat, just to protect you, and you still got the cheeks to mock us? Please reflect on your words.
I like the old guards’ moderation and neutrality, unlike the radical ones currently sitting shamelessly on their undeserved seats.
Agree. Old guards are a class act all the way. What a nice contrast to the bumbling arrogance of the new team.
The old AWARE is about being tolerant, the new the opposite.
So is the new AWARE going to be a sub-unit of the Church of Our Saviour?
Let’s call a spade a spade — this is a hostile takeover, a hijack of an existing
secular organisation that have spend the past 24 years building up goodwill, with existing funds in its coffers. They may say otherwise in their PR speech, but their actions speak so loud that i cannot hear what they are saying.
Josie Lau, in her televised interview, talked about ‘reconciling the differences’ between the new and old teams. But word from the grapevine reveals no such action. And it was publicly reported that the new team deliberately kept out the old team members from their press conference. It is disgraceful that a group of highly educated women resorted to legal technicalities and loopholes to wrest control of an organisation. What made it even more disgusting is that it stemmed from a self-righteous group, which seeks to impose its one-sided view onto others. And the final insult is their claim that they are doing this to return AWARE to it’s ‘original purpose”. (a view not shared by one of the founding members!)
Shame on the new AWARE members!
I found this on the web: (for supporters of the old AWARE)
http://we-are-aware.sg/
Pro sexuality programmes is only a small part of the broader missions old guards were trying to achieves balancing sensitivity with acceptance issues.. Unfortunately, the new guards took a leave and blow it out of proportion to garner sympathy and create fear in the hope to divide our closely knitted society.
Did Josie Lau claimed that old guards programmes were too diversified? and than suddently agreed with Thio that old guards were too focussed now? which was truly her view? Too diversified or too focussed? Nobody can fully understand what the new guards were trying to deliver with contradicting statements.
I find the new guards arguments did not stand the test of time and circumstances, they sensationaled their extremist take based on what they believe, what they think others should believe too by shoving them a set of fundamentalist view without questioning. A group of cunning foxes stalking their prey’s mind will soon meet the hunter. Anyway…..
One thing for sure, the new guards are vocal and extremist, the old guards are objective and more balanced. Thus for a woman in distress, which would you pick for a listening ear? I am sure the old guards will provide a more appropriate choice to give sustainable solution which is well supported locally and internationally without deviating from the basic principles of an inclusive NGO which is also in line with Singapore fundamental belief now.
Fortunately, we have our ministers finally stood out against certain group of people forcing their fundamentalist view on others and intolerant behaviour on Singapore’s minority. This, I have to agree wholeheartedly and hope the old guard can regain their power and continue where their hard works have left after the planned coup.
TOC should send someone under cover for counselling at the new Aware and see what kind of counselling they provide. Whether they include Christian teachings and Christian cell groups support. That would be interesting.
Dear all, if you are like me, indignant about this whole new aware exco saga, file your petition here. I can’t vote, but I can still do my part, to support old guards.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/gender-equality-for-all.html
Do spread the word. Thanks
Now another worry surfaces. Sacking the veteran AWARE manager and replacing her with another COOS church member who is likely to manipulate the composition of sudden surge in new membership to affect the upcoming EOGS and sidetrack those who are pro to old AWARE does not bore well for AWARE in the future.
Changing office lock, drastic overhauling the whole AWARE into pro fundamentlist christianity group in an uncivilised manner only confirm one thing: The crusades are on the move and all women should be very waried.
I read the description on Singapore Surf and didn’t want to read anything else. Stop using pro-gay. It’s only going to piss people off, they’re gonna think gay people are demanding MORE than equal rights.
If you agree with the statement that the situation isn’t about religion or gay people then use pro-diversity… or pro-equality.
Pro-gay is a really stupid tagline. You only have to substitute the word gay for straight to see how dumb it sounds.
I think it all started with an editorial by Choo Zheng yi dated 15 April “150 call for a vote of no confidence” This editorial slanted towards the anit-gay stand and pro-Christian position of the new committee. Read it again…this was pivotal in
startisng the blog on the issues of gay and Christianity. The old committee did nothing to clarify until now.;..and I can see some back tracking. .. The best solution..go for mediation.
Regarding the sacking of the centre manager, the comments made by this new guard Charlotte as quoted by the Straits Times are interesting. She said that the manager was sacked for insubordination and said which organisation would tolerate an employee not following instructions. But how about Josie refusing to follow DBS’s regulations not once but twice?.
Really shock 2day to learn chua lee hoong can talk sense. Ace kindred sama sama start to talk sense. Mother of s’pore wld be proud of him.
New psycho jump in to mentor aware takeover is bigger problem than old psycho who takeover sdp from chiam. There4 evil spell on ms chua is remove on a temp basis.
Next week ms chua can go back to former way, combine story and higlite old and new psycho got Phd . Austin Power enemy Dr Evil another Phd. Parents advise to tell children don’t study up to Phd wait can become mad abt taking over the world..
#10 diversity supporter
I agree with you totally. The old guard is indeed a class act. They have conducted themselves with grace and dignity. They have my utmost respect and support.
Josie and her Thio puppets, on the other hand, have lost all credibility. They have not been truthful from Day 1. Shocking from a group who have never hidden their Christian beliefs.
Josie, please resign and let the old AWARE carry on with their work. Anyway, I’m glad Josie and her pals will be around for another week, at least. They make good comic relief. Please hold more press conferences, Josie. You and the rest of your bumbling team are really good for a laugh.
#16s.liao
I’ve signed the petition. Tx for highlighting the link.
I would like to comment on new exco member, Lois Ng’s comment in ST today on why Dr Thio did not run for a position: “Honestly, AWARE is too small an outfit for her.”
Dr Thio likes us to believe that she is so concerned about AWARE and the future of young Singaporean women that she mobilises her cronies to take it over, but at the same time, not really worthy of her full commitment and time. This is so condescending. Another proof that the new exco’s intentions are not genuine and do not come from a good place in their hearts.
In short, the new Exco members have shown us the very ugly and selfish side of human beings. Also, they have a such a total complete lack of respect for thier fellow adviser, fellow President, fellow Exco member & even fellow staff members.
Now that they even resort to sacking the poor staff member, how can they provide the minimum guidance or protection for discriminated or abused members.
The biggest joke must have come from the evil mastermind Dr Thio herself. Who does she think that she is to be able to talk as if she is the Saviour for all families to be normal. Then why bother yourself to speak at the news conference if Aware is too small for you. It only shows that you are such a damn big HYPOCRITE with your words.
19) socrates on April 25th, 2009 2.14 pm
I think it all started with an editorial by Choo Zheng yi dated 15 April
Socrates, I can understand your situation. I was just like you and I even gave Zheng Xi a good ticking off. His article was so slanted toward the Old Guards and I felt it did not portray the new exco as they were.
I was upset that he took it upon himself to challenge the new exco on the old guards behalf. I was even more upset that he had used TOC as the platform for his attacks.
This was what got me up and to give a voice to the new exco. You know the rest of the story. The new exco, via the words of Thio, simply debaunked everything I had thought they were not. She threw my theory right out the window with her canny admission to being the cause of this saga. I have not said it but I think it is fair for me to say that she is simply Evil, with a capital E.
I definitely owe Zheng Xi an apology for the rebuke I gave him. I hope he forgives me. If he does forgive me, I would tell him this: That next time, please don’t be so gung ho and put TOC on the line like this, even though this time round, it is well worth it.
Since the new committee members refused to set up a separate women’s group, and feel threatened/ indignant of the screening of a movie with homosexual theme, a suggestion would be for them to celebrate and rejuvenate heterosexuality in mankind! Launch a ‘Celebrate Heterosexuality’ Campaign or ‘Hug a Member of the Opposite Sex’ Drive!
Being inclusive, I’m sure neither homosexuals nor the old guard at AWARE would have any issue with that! Just that this would put Singapore on the world map, for a campaign fuelled by paranoia.
DBS, your VP is waiting for you to sack her because her organisation practices
sacking employee for not following instructions.
Also, by keeping her, she is prone to neopotism. Employing the new centre manager from the same church without employing the best person for the job.
She has been untruthful so many times that it is difficult for us to believe DBS who has an untruthful VP.
Actually, Fundamentalism aside, the way the new exco has done their PR exercise is soooooooooooooo bad and stupid that it makes you wonder how they can be a good representation of feminism.
The Online Citizen,
If you are truly concerned about seditious speech. I think you need to pay closer attention to links posted by the likes of “Curious”, or anyone for that matter. The link he or she provided leads to mind-boggling hate speech. You might be letting the covert ones in.
Why s’pore citizens making such a big fuss on this AWARE saga, drawing so much Local media attention (Foreign media are not keen to report it), leaving the economy crisis on the back stage?
Everyday, in any part of the world, someone is taking over somebody.
Even Temasek Holdings (TH), GIC, Town Councils Lost millions of dollars, Mdm Ho in charge of TH, Retrenchment, monk going to court, ctc (negative news)…………. did not even generate such Local media coverage & excitment which lasted for several days.
The old guards from AWARE are comprising of former MPs, reporters. In short, they belong to PAP. After more 2 decades of this organisation & they got “kicked out”, it’s like they lost out in the general election.
A Big slap on PAP old guard/s face. Who is the offical old guard/s? Your guess is as gd as mine.
Old guards lost their pride & can’t swallow the reality. DBS did not support her as DBS belongs to govt.
Hell broke loose. Someone started to threaten current AWARE family membes just like communists. Others wanted the govt to intervene.
More “dramas” in the days to come.
alan @ 24, i totally agree with you. i think its completely stupid that she thinks she’s the best role model for families/matriarch. she can work for SDU (think they doing some army dating thing – organize dates for army officers) if she wants; leave AWARE alone.
i think its absolutely disgusting that some religious bigots think they can simply send emails, get people to partake in a coup, and happily sit back and watch show (“too small an outfit”). *shake head* who the hell do they think they are?!?!?
seriously, this whole thing is just making me seethe madly.
#27 Tom
Yeah, if this is not interesting or important to you, please go away and leave the posting to others who think it is important.
It is also not true that old guard are PAP – they were nominated MPs (Kanwaljit Soin, Braema Mathi). As for the threats, aiyah, please lah…don’t swallow eveything you have been told without thinking. How do you know if the threats were really made? Oh, sorry, I forgot that the people who said that threats were made are famous for being frank, open and truthful, especially on TV, right? Ha Ha.
The reality is that this bunch of wannabes have been so exposed – and as #25 Zefly says, their PR sucked big time.
#21) tears for fears on April 25th, 2009 3.26 pm
Yeah, I was also shocked when I read chua lee hoong’s article – for once I can agree. Talk about surprise after surprise. Guess there are good things coming out of this after all.
Homosexuality is a sin, that is what christian believe. I respect this view because this is their regligious belief. But as a free thinker, I believe gay is inborn and should be treat equal. So society as a whole, which directon should we go? treat gays and lesbians as criminal ? I don’t think this is right!
I support the old guards, their stand that AWARE is a secular society is perfectly right.
Ladies, as a man with loving wife and daugher, I support you, please mobile your women detachment now!
i am in support of the Old Guards, the graceful ones who make sense when they tallk, and do not lie on national tv or contradict themselves each time they talk… I am a support of justice.
But I am a guy, and I can’t vote. What can guys do to support the old guards?
To 25# Gemami. A debate like this is inevitable in public arena let alone TOC portal. Sometime, whether we like it or not, we have to give the editor the benefit of doubts because they are in better position, than us, who have been with the old guard before and they know them well.
As for the new guard, nobody knows who they were and they were not doing a favour to themselves by distancing from public scrutiny, slipped many opportunities given, spewed half cooked lies and many unusual followed up actions which they took upon the old teams.
If we simply rely on msm to do selective reporting which probably suite your tone, Dr Thio would still be hiding comfortably somewhere. Thus, I really salute all the new medias for doing a good public services to exert certain pressure, which may not be well liked by certain people, to purge the mastermind out from her comfort zone. This thing alone, our msm cannot achieve because they tend to ease pressure on elite unlike the new online media.
Do not take it to hard, we are here to debate, discuss on doubtful issues so that we can learn from each other and eventually the truth will come to light.
As such, I hope TOC & editors can continue to maintain such standard of reporting in future amd do not follow the path where our msm adopted which we saw on CNA talking point.
34) s.liao
You can speak to your female relatives, colleagues and friends and let them know the facts. They may be interested to take a position on this like you have.
You can also join AWARE as an associate member although you will not have voting rights, but you can attend the EGM and other meetings and speak out.
Also, you can help to debunk any lie or myth that is posted.
Please check this website out :
http://we-are-aware.sg/
Any other ideas from anyone?
26) alyssarae,
I think you are putting forth a dangerous idea with your HUG A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX Drive. What if the huggers were to experiment with other things while hugging? Do you want your children to be turned on by hugging? huh? huh? huh?
37) Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) on April 25th, 2009 11.35 pm
alyssarae’s program is actually far more effective than you think. Fundie science has shown that heterosexual hugging releases pheromones into the atmosphere that can cause gays within a radius of six metres to become less gay. And if the huggers were *ahem” experiment with other things all the way up to actual *****, then the effect of the pheromones will increase exponentially and also the effective range. This revolutionary technique that is being employed by some fundies churches is called “Play the Gay Away”.
HT,
Isn’t Fundie Science GREAT?!!! They are light years ahead of us in terms of scientific discoveries! Who says they are regressive?
#39 & 40,
very funny, making fun of fundy, eh? if they don’t work on you two gays, it doesn’t mean it won’t work. it is just that both of you are overly gay and you need get a little bit closer and not light years away, suggested by the gay fly. The gay fly needs a hug and a crush to ooz
i think maybe the only way to resolve is that the NEW AWARE make it clear…
that they will not be serving the benefit of women who falls under the gray areas…
prostitutes… lesbians… trans gendered… etc
that’s the only way to be fair to all parties…
Creationism and fundie science is dumb and has already been edged out by modern science and evolution. If not, why do you think that pastor can get a heart transplant? Ignorant.
To #35) David,
Thanks for the comments and I am fully agreed with you. My comments at #25 were meant to be tongue-in cheek.
Keep up the good work Zheng Xi and TOC.
Er Constance and friends,
Can you set the record straight on what yr stand on anal sex for gals is?
Yr supporters tell me that the SunT comment that you gals say it is normal is taken out of context, but cannot provide me with the text.
43) A Tan on April 27th, 2009 5.51 pm
I can’t speak for Constance but I hope I can speak as a friend of Constance.
Aside from what the law says, my view is that whether anal sex for girls (or guys for that matter) is right, wrong, stupid, clever, painful or pleasurable etc, is up to each individual to decide based on their upbringing, religious beliefs and so forth. If that individual thinks it is wrong, that’s fine. If that individual thinks its right, that’s fine by me too. It’s his/her choice, not mine.
But to have someone else (whom I didn’t even ask and don’t even know) to decide for me what is right or wrong, based on his/her religious beliefs (not mine) or to teach me what is right and wrong when I didn’t ask for such teaching, this surely cannot be right.
And may I ask you back, where in the Sunday Times does it say that the old AWARE members approve of anal sex? I see a quote from the new AWARE members on page 6. Can you or anyone else refer me to the exact page and provision in the CSE (I assume you have read the CSE since you are commenting on its subject matter) that says this? Please. Thanks.
why is the old guards so readily to Play the “Religion Card” to take back Power ? are the old guards power crazy ? wanting to keep the old guards and their crony in power forever ? when have being a christian been a problem in joining an NGO? what are the old guards’ evil intention to play up “Religion Card”?
also the straits time and new paper are spreading hatred against the christians , the two newspapers knowingly break singapore Religion Harmony Acts. Charges should be brought against the editors of straits time and New papers, for purposely spreading religion hatred against Christians.
i think its time the ISD is seen to do something to stop the spread of the “scourge”…
Nice post. I learn one thing on completely different blogs everyday. It is going to always be stimulating to read content from other writers and observe just a little something from their blog.