Reminder: Students from Raffles Institution will be at Speakers’ Corner (Hong Lim Park) today, May 3rd, Sunday, at 5pm. Please do go down and lend them your support. Details are here.
Invite: Do visit and join TOC’s Facebook group for more background stories on the Aware coverage. Our FB group is here.
Here is TOC’s video filmed at the event. Further videos will be up on TOC later. More videos of the Aware EGM can be viewed on TOC’s Youtube page here.
Josie Lau and her exco’s press conference after the EGM (Straits Times’ Razor TV):
By Choo Zheng Xi and Terence Lee / Pictures by Kenneth Tan
2 MAY, 2009 — THE verdict was out long before the voting came – Ms Josie Lau and team were unpopular with many on the floor, as there was plenty of jeering during the AWARE’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
Most of it was directed at them.
In the end, the Executive Committee resigned after a vote of no confidence dealt a blow to their credibility within the organisation. The Old Guard also wasted no time in nominating a new Executive Committee — Dana Lam became the new president, and Chew I Jin the new Vice-President.
Ms Lam is a former President of Aware, and Ms Chew was the most recent Honorary Secretary who had resigned in protest (To see who else is on the new Executive Committee, scroll to the bottom of the story).
About 3,000 members attended the meeting, and most of them are new. 1,414 of them voted in favour of ousting Ms Lau and team, with only 761 members opposing the motion.
Men also formed a sizable proportion of the audience, but they had no voting rights.
Despite the clear majority that sided with Old Guard, the resignation came at only 9.30pm — seven hours after start of the EGM. This was mainly because the proceedings, while non-violent, were riven with moments of near chaos as raised voices and vocal booing and cheering persisted through the full day event.
Raucous heckling greeted the new committee when Ms Josie Lau attempted to open the meeting. Her address was interrupted numerous times, raising tension between her team and the members on the floor.
After much effort, she then proceeded to open the floor to comments, which soon became a set of fiery exchanges between Ms Lau’s team and the floor — consisting mainly of the Old Guard and ordinary members of Aware.
Of the more than half dozen comments from members of the floor, almost all castigated Ms Lau’s committee for the way they took over the organisation, and their subsequent actions.
Christians speak up against Executive Committee
Celebrity Irene Ang, a Christian, created a stir when she took the mike. Proclaiming that she “loves God” as much as the Executive Committee does, she expressed displeasure at the new team’s actions since they took charge. She said:
“You say you have an open door for all women, but how to open your door when you change the locks to magnetic locks? You say you want to help retrenched women, and then in such a short time you fire one woman.”
Aware centre manager Schutz Lee was fired by the new committee in April.
Some also questioned the ousted committee’s objection to the Comprehensive Sexuality Programme (CSP), among them a self-professed “traditional Christian” who felt that her daughters have the right to learn information about homosexuality.
“Ultimately, parents should be the ones responsible for instilling values in their children regarding sex,” she added.
21-year-old undergraduate Chan Mei Yi voted against Ms Josie Lau’s Executive Committee because she felt that Aware was concerned that their views on feminism seemed to be informed by a single religious perspective.
“Aware is secular, and although my religion, Christianity, tells me its wrong, I don’t believe others should be judged by my religion’s standards. You can’t rework the infrastructure of a secular organization on the basis of your religion’s stand.”
Ms Lau and team unqualified to lead
Ms Bridget Lew, President of Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME), lambasted their “lack of moral leadership.”
Also, attempts to arrange a logistics meeting with Ms Lau and team were ignored, said former Aware president Braema Mathi. Expressing her “disappointment”, she urged the Executive Committee to proceed with the vote of no confidence.
Ms Poonam Mirchandani, who runs the legal clinic of Aware that provides free legal counsel for troubled women, was displeased that the new Executive Committee has never contacted her ever since their appointment.
Several members also questioned Ms Mathi’s “sacking” from the CEDAW sub-committee as well as her failure to submit the CEDAW shadow report, which was “due” at the time of the AGM on 28 March. They could not understand Honorary Secretary Sally Ang’s insistence that Ms Mathi (picture right) submit the shadow report.
In Ms Mathi’s defence, several members pointed out that there is no deadline stipulated by the United Nations at all, and their insistence only served to highlight their lack of understanding about CEDAW’s work.
Nevertheless, Aware legal counsel Gregory Vijayendran pointed out that if there is a project that needs to be seen through, then the sub-committee can stand.
In a rousing speech, three-time Aware President Constance Singam pointed out the alleged inadequacies of Ms Lau’s team: ”Where were you when women were abused and battered in the home? Where were you when children and husbands of Singapore women were denied citizenship? Where were you when women in the civil service were denied equal medical benefits… where were you when parents were confronted with work-life balance issues… where were you?”
Ms Lau and team speaks out
Aside from a couple of people, very few spoke at the open mike in support of Ms Lau and team. TOC attempted to speak to a group of supporters, but were met with silence and accusations that “the media is biased.”
However, several Aware members denouced the unruly behaviour of the Old Guard. Among them was 34-year-old, H. Tan, a businesswoman.
Speaking to TOC, she categorised the other members’ behaviour as “hooliganism”, and she questioned if the EGM was really democracy in practice.
“How can it be democracy if the loudest voices win?” she asked. ”They’re not giving credit and respect to the new guard, and I think that is hypocritical.”
* The rest of the new Executive Committee are as follows:
Yap Ching Wi (Honorary Secretary)
Corinna Lim (Assistant Honorary Secretary)
Tan Joo Hymn (Honorary Treasurer)
Lim Seow Yuin (Assistant Honorary Treasurer)
Committee members: Margaret Thomas, Hafizah Osman, Nancy Griffiths, Nicole Tan, Joanna D’ Cruz, and Martha Lee
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Silly comment at the end…it wasn’t the loudest voices that won, but the majority vote that settled the matter. 1414 is pretty strong.
Indeed, it was a clear majority. But one must be gracious in victory. I remember what Barack Obama said in Chicago on the night of 4 November 2008 when he won the US Presidential election: “And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.”
I hope AWARE will continue to listen to the many voices in society, especially when there are differences in views.
Aiya, it’s AWARE only what, not as if it is the PAP that this happens.
No big deal lah, just a storm in a teacup.
Back to the terrible economic recession. Are you still having your job? Have you save enough to last the rest of your life? If not, you should be worried.
It wasn’t democracy…democracy over threw the old guard in the first place…this media “beat-up” for a EOGM was the old guard upset that they would no longer wield any influence or power…
…basically you have a group of people upset and crying foul over losing their election.
One has to wonder at the wider implications of this for Singapore as a whole, if, for example the PAP were to lose an election would they then hold a EOE to rectify the result more to their liking.
I think the AWARE old guard has shown that they have no respect for the democratic process and while in the past they may have done wonderful things, as an organisation they will now be seen as tainted, political, biased and only seeking to support themselves. Their credibility is tainted, and if AWARE wants to truly move forward and regain its integrity, they will hold a new election within 6 months whereby no standing board member or member having ever served on the board will be eligible, and thus usher in a truly new guard.
The winners were very gracious in victory. I attended the meeting, and I remember that Braema Mathi and others specifically asked the crowd to give a round of applause to Josie and her exco after they stepped down.
I am sure that AWARE will continue its long tradition of listening to many voices in society. Josie and her exco, clearly broke that tradition, and we have now reaserted the core values of the organisation. TOC might mention that many people of different faiths, communities, and opinions, spoke up against Josie and her team, in stark contrast to the composition of the small group who spoke for them.
Democracy is noisy at times but as seen from the proceedings, the process as shown remains democratic. At least there was no stealth, no lies, no locks involved.
Singapore society has spoken. Our women have voted. Supporters of Josie Lau should reflect seriously on this and note the many diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-religious towards sexuality, human rights and personhood that AWARE tackles and confront in their mission.
It is also time to take note of their flawed theology as advocated by a small quarter of their own church and the massive inconsistencies it has created on Josie Lau and her group.
I am most heartened that fellow christians spoke up in defence of the old guard. They have helped to erase off a taint on christianity brought about by Thio Su Mien, Josie Lau and her group of superior moralists who seek to impose their own brand of christianity on the rest of Singapore society.
I am more worry about the number 761.
I think is a sad day, even with the Old Aware winning the vote, 761 voting for the fundies say that they are still a force to be reckon with. Beware of that. I think the ISD should invite some of them to Whitley for tea to make sure they would not do it again.
I’m really happy.
“the media is biased.”
if you have a chance to look at the press conference video, you will know that the media just want clarification and Josie and her team are doing nothing to give facts or answer the questions….
yep, finally we can get down to things that really matter to sgpreans….
A truly Democratic Process from AWARE !
Hope China don’t get stronger than America else world will be in chaos.
History has tell us only a truly democratic nation will last in the end.
Taiwan and Korean are better than us, their products are selling to the world.
TSMC, UMC, Samsumg, LG, Hynix, Hyundai world class products!
loudest voice win, this is democracy !
H. Tan is confused and needs help.
My observations abt this “crisis” is that it is a storm in a teacup, stoked in a biased way by the mainstream media. Never mind abt GIC losses/recession/swine flu , ShitTimes feels that this issue is more important . The new Aware exco was not even given a fighting chance in the first place. Personally I am neutral here but just feel that it was uneven fight in the first place. From press articles, the EGM resembles a catfight. We, S’poreans have more important issues. It wld be good if those women are equally passionate abt more pressing concerns.
A narrative by me – based on my wife’s account of what happened as a non-partisan voting member.
http://wherebearsroamfree.blogspot.com/2009/05/sectarian-christians-replaced-by.html
Well we know one thing at least. The OG had as supportres a fair number of jeerers and booers.
Being passoniate is one thing. Being ill-mannered is another. OG time to teach yr supporters some manners.
And praise the Lord that Beemer asked crowd to applaud the losers. Otherwise the perception is that the curlish and ill-manner have taken control, replacing the GLBT militants.
For the avoidance of doubt, I stress that I never tot the GLBT crowd took over the OG. )))))))
Wonder what people think of this comment from another blog (not me). A friend of mine was also in one big law firm in which Thio was previously senior partner and then my friend also kena exorcised:
big lawyer said…
Erm actually if you think TSM’s antic during ehr time as head boss of law firm was bad than you know only half the story.
Some time last year, I got a mail through a fren to attend a gathering at a big shot’s place at coronation road. Curious, I attended, and lo and behold the hosts were none other than TSM and her hubby. Surpisingly, some of the other guests were like high fliers type in Sg. (erm yeah I am dat type)
Dinner was decent enough, some mindless banter and passable local fare. So after dinner, suddenly all the guests were ushered to the basement. SHOCK number two. The entire basement of their house is rigged up like a freaking mini Church!!!! Started to feel the chill in the back of my spine. Suddenly the food is sitting uncomfortably in my stomach. Than spontaneously, some sermonising started led by Thio’s husband. She’s standing there looking like a horror movie high priestess and acting possessed. Than the “slaying” started … this is like excorcism. Some of the what I think “regulars” starting touching people on the head and chanting and people are falling. There is wailing and tongues.
For the unbeliever group like myself staring agape and shocked suddenly someone comes to us and sermonises, telling us to convert to the Lord. the rst of night was hazy and I remember leaving the place nauseated and exhausted.
Till this day, I have avoided the “fren” who invited me. This may be THE secret cult group coz some of the people are really powerful types.
9:20 PM
Alan Wong said…
Big lawyer,
Wow, if what u say is true, this is real scary. Day, by day, the plot seems to be getting thicker.
Maybe this can explain why TSM has a smirk smile on her face, the smile of a cult leader.
5:25 AM
Anonymous said…
the part on the church in the basement is true, heard it before. But dunno wat goes on inside. But yar scaryx10
what a mess with so many women shouting…
The EGM has shown that Singapore is a country that believes in the separation of religion and race issues from the matters that affect all of us equally. It is a victory over the insidious, whom want to impose their values on what is right or wrong on others, and also an affirmation of pluralism in our multi-ethnic, multi-religious country.
Singapore wins today.
As always, when people demonstrate their anger and express it in the way humans do, some people not on their side will quickly call them “hooligans” or “ill-mannered” or “gangsters”. This, again, is a human condition — the humans who absolutely refuse to acknowledge that the other side are angry at them, and not happy at them for whatever they have or have not done. Yet, these same “hooligans” or “ill-mannered women” are the same women who buy the products that you sell (you will make profits off them, won’t you?), who hire you for your legal services (that make you rich enough to buy a house and even set up a chapel in the basement), and who before and after that EOG would still be utterly charming that your son would want to marry them. Thio have absolutely no EQ at all; she and her gang are in total denial of the fact that the manner with which they have handled the whole drama since the day they took over Aware (and just before that) have been the only single reason why otherwise totally reasonable people became shrieking felines in the mood to kill. And Thio and gang still can sit there and call them “hooligans” and “gangsters”. First woman Law Dean?? You can pass exams but you don’t understand people. And you have the cheek to “mentor” people? Please people, what you get is what you give out.
The Tribe Has Spoken!
It is very sad that the people making the negative comments were not there. Were you aware that josie and gang refused to turn on the microphone for members to speak? and so members of the floor need to shout out request to turn on the microphones, then they ask security to remove the people who shouted for microphones to be turned on. Later when the mics were switched on, the volume was extremely low, and mike was switched on and off to interrupt the speakers as they make their point. And of course you will jeer when they spend $90,000 indiscriminately, when most of the things they procure could have been gotten for free, if they only know how to ask for help. It really shows that they were not capable of running the organisation. Your will also jeer if you are shouted at by SALLY to “SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN” Believe me, the bullying was starting by them, except we refused to take it, and so therre was a lot of protest. BTW, one of their supporters was screaming her head off at one point and no security was asked to remove her. F.Mentor also cut queue all the time and everone one was told to shut up and keep quiet to hear her “deliver her speech”. Everyone else have to queue to speak and she was given that special previlege – on what grounds? F Mentor is only an ordinary member! So please, unless you were there to witness all these, you wouldn’t understand.
the above picture “Members of the old guards in solidarity”
seemed like an election rally.
It shows how urgly women can be, how they down other’s voice.
Those who know how to jeer and shout the loudest is the winner and the happiest. I can see a lot of gays and lesbians happy faces in the hall.
“How can it be democracy if the loudest voices win?” she asked. ”They’re not giving credit and respect to the new guard, and I think that is hypocritical.”
Josie and her gang said the won the election with majority in AGM. Now they lost to the majority at EOGM. Fair and square.
Try to look at this EOGM as an act of People’s Power.
well..charbo will alway b charbo..what do u spect? As long as they put their silly agenda above national bread n butter issues.. they are just abunch of silly charbo! Do u c them beating their chest when many of us are losing jobs etc
3/5/09
This is what I called Ordinary Singaporean’s first step via the Ballot Box and we can use the same when it comes to our impeding General Election ie we ordinary Singaporeans must all out use our votes via the Ballot Box and vote in as many Oridnary Singaporean candidates and reject those Elites either in the PAP and Opposition (we have see the latest entry of an Elite into his late’s dad party and this is not good for our Modern Singapore and for us Ordinary Singaporeans-Enough of Elites).
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Anyone who does not see the significance of this event does not understand civil society or democracy.
Also, those who take this as an opportunity trivialize the concerns of women are creepy and chauvinistic.
Videos from Youtube:
Queue at AWARE EGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA_9yTPPOzo
Thio Su Mien speaks for the first time at the AWARE EGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbSyfxyWSas
AWARE EGM, 2 May 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6fPbJIVWak
AWARE EGM on 2 May 09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6a1u-kMneQ
“I’m on Page 73!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWNfkA-vVNo
“Where Were You?!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xLeN4P9qY
(Mild Version) 1st of May, what happened in AWARE one day before the EGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlOTdcMIQhU
“We are aware”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZz1RS3v318
Dana Lam’s speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-qO4GH8uZc
Video0010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66wagWtbzGY
To 24) Andrew Chuah:
Can you define the meaning of “Elite”? Seems you are equating the Eiltes of PAP to a different group of people in the Opposition, which I take the person you refer to as Kenneth Jeyaretnam.
Why are you asking us to reject him? On what basis is he considered an Elite, other than having a good top-notch education in the UK? He has never been a Government Scholar or advanced in this career via the powerful PAP machinery.
In addition, Kenneth gave up a lucrative career in the financial sector overseas to enter politics. This already speaks volumes about his character and such move is totally incongruent with the Elitist approach of the PAP, where lots of money and goodwill are showered to those who are selected to enter PAP politics.
Jeyaretnam the Senior was also never an Elite. He was always bullied by others in politics and yet never gave up. This is the type of models that Ordinary Singaporeans should look up to!
The last comment is typical of the mental of the former new EXCO…power does not beget respect…
Respect has to be earned – that team led by TSM, opps JL, has not shown ever an iota that they have earned it…
I was also tickled by JL’s last comment that her team has “graciously agreed” to resign – they had a choice meh?
Opps, mean mentality of the former new EXCO
3000 – 1400 – 700 = 900-odd men at the meeting. Since when did old uncles become interested in AWARE new exco’s affairs? Even celebrities, politicians, people of different races, religions, nationalities were there to support Josie and gang. This proves that the new exco is not socially exclusive.
“23) blackfeline on May 3rd, 2009 1.01 pm
well..charbo will alway b charbo..what do u spect? As long as they put their silly agenda above national bread n butter issues.. they are just abunch of silly charbo! Do u c them beating their chest when many of us are losing jobs etc”
Missing the point, and fallaciously propagating his sexist views? Just ignore this article if you think it’s unimportant. -.-
I think the supporters of the Old Guard were uncivilised and unruly, even if they were passionate.
23) blackfeline
Why be an irritating sexist by generalising women behaviour and attitudes? How could it be that “silly agenda” such as the fight for female equality and protection of a secular organisation be less than supporting the economy?
With Josie and co., do you believe that the lack of diversity among these women in power in an internationally respected organisation would allow them to push for women’s rights even as they help women in financial needs in these times? That was what they claimed in one of their interviews/press conference would be their new direction in these dire times.
It proves that the capacity of voices is sufficient to make known complacency. What would then be the implications for the government should their measures not meet everyone’s standards in terms of the crisis on hand?
We musnt’ be too quick to criticise the rowdy behaviour. Women are emotional creatures (meant in a good way!) and it may well be a reaction to what is viewed as an unjust way to gain power.
The new-new exco is no less legitimately voted in as the old-new exco. Neither victory is particularly laudable, the former pyrhhic and the latter humiliating. In a contest of ideas, at least the former were open and won an ideological debate.
What is unfortunate is that the organisation has suffered, what would seem to be, an irreparable reputational loss. Regardless which team runs it, it will never be again be seen as the neutral group it once was perceived.
In Thailand Yellow Shirt vs. RED
In Singapore AWARE EOGM : WHITE vs RED
So what does RED indicates?……….
something quite troubling here, there are 761 votes against the 1414 votes of no confidence.
that’s quite a large pool of people voting out of fear, blind faith or both….
number 32 I respect all creatures but despise stupid irrational charbo who abused their power and equally despise MCPs..kindly keep your haywired emotion for another day. I have made myself very clear..all specific gender groups are self indulgent with no capacity to look beyond.. AWARE is just a silly pseudo group playing dollhouse..my mother, sisters,aunties etc have not benefitted a drop of shit
from them! Don’t labelled me for despising your particular kind!
i was an old guard supporter until i attended the meeting yesterday and watched the bullying tactics of their camp and was turned off to see 30, 40-year-old professional women hmph-ing childishly over petty points.
after all this flak about the new guard not coming to power legitimately, how come no one has pointed the manner in which the old guard elected their new committee members? how democratic was the process of yelling out names and deciding within the minute? were all 3000 members familiar with the candidates’ past work or moral integrity?
evidently it is still an old girls’ club.
Respect is earned not given. The new group did not show why respect should be alloted to them and the battle was lost.
Why the new and old are fighting for the AWARE. At first the old are kick out by the new. But the end, the old ones return to the power, are there anything to do with
singaporean daily life, or just another wayang play only.
Should they call themselves woman and woman, are they helping themselves, or
more interested in the AWARE, for just the power…….only…….
WHY and what are they doing,
ask yourself this question : how many of our mothers have really benefitted from this stupid self indulgent group? Mothers who are not well educated still working and at the same go market,cook and wash your stinking undies etc and at the end of month get only peanuts from u! Do you seriously think this group of silly charbos care?yes..only 4 themselves so they can go high tea every week n engage in frivolous cocktail talk!
See how josie kept slamming Aware and how it had lost its purpose in her interview? What a SORE LOSER.
Josie, you claim that the majority of singaporeans don’t know what Aware is about, I’ve got news for you:
you were publicly humiliated at the EGM because of YOUR IGNORANCE OF WHAT FEMINISM IS ABOUT, AND YOUR COMPLETE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF AWARE.
Can’t you just disappear quietly?!?!
#40) you mean mothers should abstain from going to the market, wash their clothes and leave these to the maid? Frivolous and hypocritical. Then it becomes another female’s problem. What’s so bad about going to the market? Obviously some well-to-do people never run errands at the market or NTUC and dunno about the socialising that womensfolk enjoy after market-shopping.
For those who think that was rowdy – they should just watch a typical day in the British House of Commons. I’m not suggesting British democracy (or manners) is impeccable, but it certainly is one of the front-runners.
@lop
I think your views are warped. AWARE is not charity, it doesn’t have the means to hand out ang pao to every undies-washing mothers. Do you consider them marginalised? Lots of men are in the same difficult financial position too.This is also the same warped view that Josie has – not reaching out to the masses. AWARE is not a commercial product that you want to reach out to the masses, this is not a marketing campaign – or do we really think that most women in Singapore are marginalised?
Having watched the videos posted, it is clear that Josie & her team handled themselves very professionally & in a dignified manner. I really respect them.
But the same cannot be said of the old guards & their supporters. More like a mob bent on lynching. In fact, quite barbaric.
The way I see it, Josie & her team actually won hands down. They have achieved their objective of exposing the old AWARE, which was promoting homosexuality in schools. And in the circle of life, the old guards have taken over AWARE, which is now a platform for gays & lesbians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDytZMKUvr4&feature=related
classis sense of humour!!!!
You MUST see this.
i wonder if Josie will give her card members piority if help is needed, if she & fiends remain on the Exco…
http://thioliann.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-dictionary-entry.html