By Terence Lee
DESPITE the controversy that has erupted, Ms Josie Lau and her team would still contribute their expertise to AWARE if asked.
Speaking at a press conference after their resignation from the women’s organisation, the team said that their original purposes for joining AWARE has not changed.
Josie explained that she was initially asked to join the organisation because of her marketing and fundraising expertise, and she hopes to continue doing that.
Currently, the team has no future plans. They were non-commital when quizzed about whether they would set up their own organisation promoting their own beliefs and values.
“We’ve yet to sit down over coffee and discuss our future plans,” said Honorary Treasurer Maureen Ong.
Despite the strong opposition to their leadership, the team stands firm in their beliefs. They believe they have the constitutional right to stay in the organisation, but the only reason they stepped down was really “for the sake of AWARE.”
“When I joined,” said Ms Ong, “I was simply only answering Constance Singam’s call for new blood.”
She could not understand what caused this reversal in AWARE’s attitude.
The team once again reiterated that there was no ulterior motive for them joining AWARE, said Ms Lau. There was no conspiracy, and in fact she does not know any of the Committee members except for a few of them, but even those were passing acquantances.
“I did not come in knowing who would run with me,” said Ms Lau. In fact, she revealed that there were quite a lot of minority people that stood up for elections at the AGM, but they were not voted in.
The team also criticised the discrimination against people with “pro-family” views, citing the just-concluded meeting as an example.
When asked about whether they expected such a reaction from the crowd, the team said that they “expected it” because of the negative reaction and attention it has already spawned in the past month.
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No, Josie and minions of the FM, GET THIS STRAIGHT
They hated you not because you were pro-family. MANY parents stood up and spoke FOR the CSE and against you.
They hate you because of your high-handedness. They hated you for your extravagance. They hated you for ruling an NGO like a corporation. They hated you for your behavior of exclusion. They hated you because you tarnished the name of feminism.
GET THIS STRAIGHT. Your voices were the voice of the minority. Because the majority are good decent NORMAL honest folks who just want to live in peace and harmony with each other. If you’re feeling you’ve been persecuted, maybe it’s time to take a cold hard you at yourselves in the mirror. This is exactly how it feels like to be marginalized and unfairly treated.
Go forth and sin no more.
Maureen Ong shouldn’t be addressed as Honorary Treasurer anymore.
The out-voted exco did not think they were part of a conspiracy?? Ok, maybe not conspiracy but how about an orchestrated plan to install new leadership? A coup??
@Zefly: I understand that you might have strong feelings for Aware and this case, but I felt there’s no need to target the people personally and use such hateful language. I hope you apologise for your strong language and name calling.
#4 joshua wong,
are the cleaner after josie & gang’s mess? cause i saw in your other posting you urged the public not to aggressively pursue the matter of josie & gang’s over spending.
by the way, i happen to have some feeling about josie & gang, but it is not hate, i simply despise them.
is despise better for you? no hateful language.
After being ousted, I do not think it s wise for Josie & Gang to continue to serve and hold key area for the next one year. Very simple reason, they should be under thorough investigation why they broke the constitution of spending more than $20000 within a month without soughting member’s approval. If they have committed an offense, they should be barred from accessing all AWARE’s affairs until they are properly charged.
4) Joshua Wong on May 3rd, 2009 10.39 am
Josh, my dear boy, the problem with Zefly’s post is not that it has hateful language – there is none except for the use “hate” and hey, you used that yourself in your earlier post in another thread, where you were wringing your hands and asking “Why do people hate Josie”. Well you’ve got your answer.
No, the problem with Zefly’s post and it is indeed a very serious problem indeed and one that I am very concerned about myself, is that it is all FACTS. People with good intentions (I’m trying to be kind here) but with no sense at all on the issues facing our society, worry me (yes, and like all those instant “angry parents over CSE” out there, I am worried for my children too.
So, Josh, my boy, please…do some thinking about what is right and wrong. And Zefly should not apologise – after all he didn’t tell you to “Shut Up and Sit Down!”
Dear jos, there is no need for anyone to apologise. i agreed with his post.
#5,7,8
Thanks for sharing your opinions. I was just wondering, which other post of mine were you referring to?
As far as I can recall, I only posted elsewhere in the comments to http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/05/aware-members-demand-“account-for-our-money”/
And I do feel that calling the new guard minions and his judgmental tone was a bit too harsh still.
Dont worry . The battle is lost but not the war. Continue to monitor them and engineer another takeover when they cross the lines. The positive side is you have made us all aware what was happening at AWARE. Hope the majority know what they are supporting. Dont give up!
9) Joshua Wong on May 3rd, 2009 12.26 pm
Whoops! Sorry, wrong Joshua (that was Joshua Lung). My apologies for the mistaken identity. Still, can’t agree with your views – not sure if you were at the EGM – the depth of feeling was certainly there. As for the tone, I actually think Zefly was being kind.
10) socrates on May 3rd, 2009 12.36 pm
Go suck an egg. Or better, suck some sour grapes.
#socrates,
yes dont give up!
so that the likes of FM, josie & gang can be exposed, questioned, booed by the public.
and supporters like you must also not give up, continue to urge them out, so that we can wipe them out just like what we did in the EGM.
please, please dont give up!
5) JL on May 3rd, 2009 10.50 am
There is no way that the over expenditure can be glossed over. I was at the EGM and heard angry members use very strong language, and this matter will have to be pursued and resolved.
The constitution is very clear – the spending limit is $20k a month. Even if we split into two calendar months, that’s a maximum of $40k for March and April. They spent “about” $90k. AWARE has to pursue this otherwise they themselves will be in trouble with the Commissioner of Charities as well as answerable to the members. It’s not a question of being magnanimous or vindictive – its simply the procedural thing to do – the new president and her committee would have no choice but to pursue this otherwise they themselves will be investigated for covering up an offence.
So expect Socrates and his like to continue to wring their hands and moan about persecution – that’s what they love…the martyr complex (along with their many other complexes such as sex obsessive). Well, if you want to play with fire, prepare to get burned. Man, there’s got to be a conservative family value in there.
What Josie & gang did is indeed despicable. Nobody can be faulted for despising them, they were the ones brought it on to themselves as soon as they elected themselves in covertly through the AGM.
However, I believe in forgiveness and redemption for those who are truly sorry for their own actions. Intelligent people make mistakes and believe in stupid things all the time. That is why we must speak out and tell them that they are wrong.
Of course, truly incompetent people never apologize and never see the light because they are not competent enough to even see that they were wrong in the first place.
supporters like you must also not give up, continue to urge them out, so that we can wipe them out just like what we did in the EGM.
IMHO, there is enough space in civic society even for Josie and team’s views. Afterall, their church stand did not advocate exterminating GLBTs. No need to wipe them out for they have as much a right to their views in their personal space (however illogical it may be to us) as we have ours.
To hahaha
If you believe that, then pigs could probably fly…
With all their twisting and turning and economy with the truth, you think we still have faith (pun unintended) in their words?
Somemore want to contribute. OMG. Really like someone say, it will survive even after a nuclear explosion.
#15 xtrocious on May 3rd, 2009 2.41 pm
Yes, I sincerely believe that there is no reason to wipe out this group. I believe in “inclusiveness” which IMHO means allowing this group to state their views even if ridiculous. As long as they do not impeach on others’ freedom — e.g. others’ right to exist and others’ right to their opinions and others’ right to personal choice — they too should be granted the same rights.
1) Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) on May 3rd, 2009 9.42 am
1″Go forth and sin no more.”
Below is a reply I sent to sllim and I think it applies here as well :
“Everyday when I wake up I thank the heavens for little mercies that Singapore is not ruled by “crazies” like you and your ilk and there are still voices of reason .
Lest you forget you and your ilk belong to the lunatic fringe and are the minority.
The mainstream values will ALWAYS prevail as the majority view in Singapore, as espoused by the MOE, when it comes to sex education in our schools.
Gay anal sex and same sex marriages violate Singapore laws!
No one has a monopoly on knowledge not even you. The fringe lunatic lifestyle that you and your ilk are dicing with, will only lead to death and destruction by exotic and deadly diseases, because as the saying goes, “those who live like Hell will end up there” as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow.
And when you vilify the voices of reason please do not to forget that those from the lunatic fringe who scratch their asses should never bite their fingernails.”
See Link from Dr Frank Joseph that mortified you and your ilks and have therefore predictably labelled it as satanic. Saving lives is not satanic but destroying lives is.
http://www.traditioninaction.org/HotTopics/a02rStatistcs.html
Btw Dr Joseph’s statistics have not been proven wrong by anyone in this thread or elsewhere. In fact I have proven that he is absolutely right on his statistics on the Aids and Hepatitis scourge in the USA. See below:
Dr Frank Joseph states:
1 “Even today, homosexuals account for well over 50% of the AIDS cases in the United States, which is quite a large number considering that they account for only 1-2% of the population”
According to the CDC, HIV infection and AIDS have had a tremendous effect on men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM accounted for 71% of all HIV infections among male adults and adolescents in 2005 (based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.)
See Link : http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/resources/factsheets/msm.htm
According to the CDC , the percentage of cases of AID from 2003 to 2007 (cumulative) in fact confirms what Dr FJ stated. The CDC figure was at 55% for msm and msm with injection drug use.
Dr FJ said “well above 50% !!” He is spot on!!
See Table 4 here
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/2007report/table4.htm
2″“Homosexuals account for a disproportionate number of hepatitis cases: 70-80% in San Francisco, 29% in Denver, 66% in New York City, 56% in Toronto, 42% in Montreal, and 26% in Melbourne.”
According to the CDC website on “Viral Hepatitis And Men Who Have Sex with Men” the msm are at ELEVATED risk for certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.”
Approximately 15%–25% of all new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in the United States are among MSM. IMO this is a serious epidemic as the gay population is only about 2% in the USA.
See link : http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Populations/msm.htm
See Table 2 at the Link here on the 2% of gay population in the USA.
http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/GayDemographics.pdf
For those who wish to educate themselves on the types Hepatitis please go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/index.htm
So be warned.
To the voices of reason in this thread like singaaware, untilproven, leihoma, concerned, Peace, brainwave, vincesgp, Eddie and Old BC, et al I say never forget that you are on the right side of the equation and to you I salute and take pleasure in dedicating this AV presentation on “Why Life is Beautiful”.
http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Life/index.htm
Disclaimer : This AV was sent to me by a friend. Though it is from a pro-military website, I am not pro-war. I am pro-peace but will not hesitate to fight for the Truth, because “Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom.”
To those from the lunatic fringe who dice with death and destruction I shall quote only this verse from Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Charge of the Light Brigade” :
“Forward, the Light Brigade!” (Read GLBT)
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Someone had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.”
Lastly, though the lunatic fringe may have won the battle at Suntec City yesterday with mob rule, death threats and storming of the “Bastille”,it has not yet won the war and never will so long as the mainstream values in Singapore remain intact.”
Josie & fiends should be barred at least 5 years from Exco positions for the damage they have done. they also should not be allowed o stay in Aware, who knows if they go around spying?
Josie & fiends should set up SPYware! lol… ^.^
There’s so much satisfaction to see the group represent majority sentiments win in the AWARE saga. I wish the general election can be equally democratic that eventually best & most qualified people get elected to hold MP posts.
19) mice is nice on May 3rd, 2009 3.41 pm
“Josie & fiends should set up SPYware! lol… ^.^”
Or maybe they should also set up ADware ( Accommodation for Dysfunctional Women And Restless Eves.)
re post #21) Curious on May 3rd, 2009 3.57 pm
pray hard they use their own money… -.-”
“When I joined,” said Ms Ong, “I was simply only answering Constance Singam’s call for new blood.”
She could not understand what caused this reversal in AWARE’s attitude.
Oh my… my dear Maureen… I do not understand how thick your skull can be? You were simply answering Constance Singam’s call for new blood, or were you answering to the Grand Demented Feminist Dementor’s call to ‘steeplejack’ AWARE for your own sinister agenda? (who by the way, were “charmed” when her name was mentioned on page 73… get this, she was “charmed”… what a total deludenoid).
All I can say now is, good riddance to bad rubbish!
Yay to Singapore’s principle on secularism!
Josie and all her ilk are a scary bunch, so full of self-righteousness that they simply couldn’t tell what they’d done was wrong. Thinking people rejected their agenda and actions and they were rightfully skewered (in my opinion, they asked for it) at the EGM. Yet they can wonder why and believe that they’ve been victimised! It’s beyond logic. Is it because these folks do not have their heads firmly and squarely sitting on their shoulders? I find this extremely perturbing. How many such people are in our midst? The battle at AWARE was won and control wrestled away from this bunch. But I can’t help thinking that battles like this will have to be fought again and again in future…
3) mice is nice on May 3rd, 2009 4.02 pm
“pray hard they use their own money… -.-”
That they have aplenty, don;t worry. It is the mob rule, death threats and storming of the Bastille tactics that they lack.
And in case you don’t yet know its not the color of the cat that counts but whether it can catch mice!
So better watch out because a better mouse trap will be coming out soon (thanks to Josie and her team) when the MOE investigates the old guard’s CSE.
Wow, full of hate, unforgiveness, wickedness and the animals don’t behave like all of you . The animals are laughing at all of you.
You are worse than them. They thought that birds and bees don’t have anal sex or oral sex. The animals are confused too not just the children. They have distinct division. Their sex organs are for procreation with a little pleasure thrown in to motivate. Human beings….. what has happened. Maybe in the future the sexual organs are for sensual pleasure only and not for procreation. Maybe cloning is the answer. Soon cloning factories will spring up to let you clone your kids. The gay and lesbain couple can have kids by cloning..The future inhabitants are clones. The sexual organs will evolve into pleasure organs.
Please, just go. And while you’re at it, shut the door on the way out.
As Tom Petty sang “don’t come around here no more!”
re post #25) Curious on May 3rd, 2009 4.27 pm
i worried cos even they have more than enough money, they will rather use other people’s money.
our govt not so dumb, they can just tell of those unconcerned parents that they themselves failed as parents that’s why the CSE program was born. & stop pointing fingers, why not use their time to communicate more with their precious little 1s.
in S’pore, most cats are so well taken care of, they do not bother catching mice. there are mice sacrificed for the good of all, many dead during early developements of new drugs & are just tossed into bins. where’s the tribute to The Glorious Dead” mice day?
re post #24) Hg on May 3rd, 2009 4.22 pm
////But I can’t help thinking that battles like this will have to be fought again and again in future…////
i think your fear could very well come true. Josie & fiends are the “pioneers”. lol…
I thought Josie & her team conducted themselves in a real dignified manner. Even after losing the votes, they were gracious and professional. What a contrast to the old guards and their unruly mob of supporters. I guess when the homosexuality issue is on hand, the gays & lesbians are all out to regain their territory. Shocking behaviour!
Look at the big picture……..Did Josie Lau and her exco and their advisor Dr Thio lose everything including their faces last night?
No way! Their main grouse of the old Aware’s shocking teaching of pro-lebianism to secondary students is now the talk of the town. Even MOE is now awakening and having a second look (assuming they had a first look). Would they have achieved this expose through another way?I don’t think so.
So keep your chins up ladies…….you all did good for S’pore . MOE is now likely to discard the parts which promote lesbianism proactively and they have Dr Thio and Josie Lau to thank for. Not forgetting the other brave/decent ladies!
PS: You are one articulate pretty lady, Josie, I predict you will go far….maybe even in the political field?
re post #32) observ on May 3rd, 2009 5.44 pm
i dunno lying can be dignified wan woh….
*clap clap clap*
To #32 observ on May 3rd, 2009 5.44 pm:
Were you there? I was. IMHO, one of the reasons how Josie & her team has the upper hand in coming across as “dignified” was that they cut-off the microphones whenever the person speaking does not agree with them. This agitated the people from the other camp.
See http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/05/aware-victorious-and-rejoice/
Last video titled “Josie Lau and team admit defeat and step down” at 1:00 minute for an example of how Lois Ng did it, even at their self-declared “gracious” resignation.
Sure, on the surface they were dignified. In reality, their dignity is supported by undignified tactics.
To curious @ 20),
Thanks for posting the info and sharing your thoughts with all readers. Please include other relevant data on crime as well.
Hope you can forward the data to MOE and AWARE…..even MOH.
This should be included in CSE from the very beginning.
I don’t think Josie’s gang should be allowed into the AWARE centre anymore. No one knows what other damage she’ll cause. She’ll probably object to everything and hold up projects. And she’ll want to use only negative words in connection with homosexuality in the CSE program – like unnatural, sin, etc. since she disagrees with using neutral words. She probably thinks she can catch Aids just by being in the same room with a gay person. Can someone tell her this is the 21st century and tell her to return to her own planet?
Josie lau and lackeys thought AWARE is DBS and thought money rained from the sky.
Joshua Wong,
I’ve thought about it the whole day. I agree with you. I should apologize.
I’M SORRY.
The crowd don’t hate the minions of FM. After waking up today, we all realized we really loved them.
We LOVE them for how they had helped put AWARE on the national spotlight. Now AWARE has 3000 members. We LOVE them for helping AWARE upgrade its security system. which they will most likely pay for. We LOVE them for rallying their righteous flock to contribute an additional $28,000 (700++ x40) to the coffers to help promote the oh-so-insiduous gay agenda. We LOVE them for making the people recognize AWARE’s past 25 years of contributions… the unsung heroines are now household names. Thank you, thank you. Thank you Dr Thio. Thank you Pastor Hong. What sweet, sweet sweet poetic justice. :P
quote{The team also criticised the discrimination against people with “pro-family” views, citing the just-concluded meeting as an example.}
wolf crying wolf. josie and team anyhow discriminate the gays and people who don’t agree with their religious teachings (means even people who take neutral stance towards gays and lesbians). now they come say other people discriminate their unorthodox pro-family values. so how you feel now josie? have a taste of your own medicine? you can go back to your high-tea buffets and golf courses and facials. because you are inept. why don’t sooc church help the poor and disabled people instead?
39) Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) on May 3rd, 2009 9.47 pm ,
enough to hire Annabel Chong an as EXCO member to take charge of the CSE syllabus? She is very expereinced expert on sex and can help to author the CSE.
And Sasha Grey as the trainer and model. She can role play with the students of any gender.
“…..but the only reason they stepped down was really “for the sake of AWARE.”
“When I joined,” said Ms Ong, “I was simply only answering Constance Singam’s call for new blood.” ”
The thing that bothers me is how they still keep sprouting these lies.
For the sake of aware – I call bs to that. They didn’t care for aware, they felt that there was something wrong with aware and so they came in to fix it.
Maureen Ong claims she joined aware because she admired Constance Singam due to an article in ST. But again and again, she had defamed these people she claims to admire and later even said outright the reason she joined because she’s a concerned parent who feels teenagers shouldn’t hear about anal sex, oral sex, experimenting with pills and so on.
Come on, I don’t believe they don’t see the inconsistencies in their feelings and the words they sprout.
For this behaviour, I can only come to the conclusion that they are unrepentant and only keeping up the good intentions facade.
36) truth hurts on May 3rd, 2009 7.37 pm
1″To curious @ 20), Thanks for posting the info and sharing your thoughts with all readers. ”
You are most welcomed. Truth only hurts those who are in a denial mode.
Please do society at large a service.Be my guest and send the CDC statistics to as many parents and young people as possible.
2″Please include other relevant data on crime as well.”
I think the Home Team at the MHA has all the statistics.
3″Hope you can forward the data to MOE and AWARE…..even MOH.”
Those who read this and know the folks at the MOE can please do us favor and email them the CDC statistics. The MOH is already in touch with the CDC at Atlanta, Georgia. I am not sure new old-Aware will be receptive. So let the MOE take care of them after the investigation.
4″This should be included in CSE from the very beginning.”
Yes I agree with you absolutely. We must take 3 further actions:
1 We must make sure that lesbians and gays are not listed as “trainers” of sexuality in our schools as they cannot be expected to be objective on the mainstream values of over an est 98% of people in Singapore.
2 Tell our children that the lunatic fringe is only a small percentage in Singapore and they don’t need to join them. But they don’t need to despise or fear them.
3 Make sure that same sex marriage laws are not passed and the Penal Code 337A is not repealed. See Link below:
http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/html/homepage.html
Click the alphabet “P” on top of the page and then scroll down to the Penal Code and look at section 377A.
39) Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) on May 3rd, 2009 9.47 pm
Hi Zefly, it was great, wasn’t it?
And Watchman, I admit it, I went there to give the fundies a hard time. And it was FUN! The mob rules. If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
Were you there? Ha ha. In your face. Annabel Chong? Sure. no problem. let me have her number. Bwa Ha Ha!
to Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
if you are for the old guard, they have already won. it is not a must, but it would reflect well for the old guards and their supporters to be gracious about it.
attacking the people who have lost and crowing and being snarky about the win.. does not reflect well on you or anyone else who did.
neutral party
Hi Neutral,
With all due respect, I ask for your understanding.
This isn’t a soccer match, where we’re mere spectators who can cheer the losing team because they put up a good fight. Since you are ‘neutral’ you would have very little idea the outrage we feel. What they did, the whole hijack, how they nearly ran AWARE to the ground, how they also tried to hijack the EOGM was indecent… and that was putting in mildly. Even now, Josie and gang, and Dr Thio showed absolutely no remorse for what they did. Aunties, Neutral Party, aunties voted against Josie’s team. You can’t get more ‘conservative’ than that already, and yet, they are turning this into a liberals vs, conservative issue?
Where is the apology?
I agree with you that we could have been bigger people. In time we would see them as misguided people who make mistakes just like us. But i would be lying now to say that forgiveness is in our mind. We strive to be better than our old selves most of the time, but we’re only human.
If they really want to heal the ‘rift’ it would only be gracious of them to apologize for all the pain and trauma they’ve put everyone through for the past one month.
Peace.
Voted out but still willing to contribute?
can any members of that team be trusted on even the most simple task? would women who need help want them to? they have done such a major damage to Aware, is it a good to have them around?
if “the trust is gone”, please just go. but if Josie & fiends need Aware’s help, extend your helping hand.
(43) Curious
Curious should change his nick. cos he sounds definitely uncurious about listening to alternative views.
Curious keeps calling people lunatic fringe.. come on la. Josie and her voters are in the fringe, stop calling her lunatic. she’s lost, and she’s got her lunatic fm, that’s bad enough oredi.
i see Curious has a very strong campaign to make starve people different from him. heng ar, he doesn’t sound like my mp.
but i think Curious is actually a very humane and caring person. cos the only reason why i can think of that he’s so upset abt anal sex is his assumption that it hurts. well, guess what, it’s not ur anus at stake, Curious, so get out of the lunatic fringe and relak a bit.
41) Watchman
Watchman, you really proved yourself to be no.1 Annabel Chong FANBOY! and Whoever GREY! Who is she???? why u keep posting their names everywhere? r u the PR manager? stop advertising for free leh!
If there is a dismissal clause – sack Josie Lau and her gang(sters) After they pay up all the exuberant expenses.
Also, DBS, where are you ? JL is a bad, toxic asset. Why keep her ?