Call for ROS to step in and dissolve AWARE for breaching provisions under Societies Act (CAP 311)
April 30th, 2009 | 
Author: By Eugene Yeo
Last week, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan indicated that the government will not intervene in the AWARE saga as the Societies Act clearly spells out how associations should conduct their affairs and the association’s constitution also regulates arrangements between members. (read report here)
The minister also emphasised that it is important for all Singaporeans to remember and also remain sensitive to the fact that they are living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society.
Though Dr Vivian has been circumspect about the controversies which the new AWARE exco found themselves embroiled in, he had strong words for all parties concerned that it is important for organisations to keep religion above the fray of petty politics.
May I ask Dr Vivian if religious organizations are allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of a secular NGO?
Recent events have more than adequately demonstrated the prominent roles of COOS and its pastor Derek Hong in the coming EGM of AWARE.
The Church of Our Saviour (COOS) have been encouraging people to join Aware and support the new team. There were unconfirmed rumors going around that COOS is paying for transport to bring busloads of supporters to the Singapore EXPO to vote at its EGM.
The venue of the EGM has been changed abruptly to the Singapore EXPO Hall 2 only this week which is within walking distance of the Max Pavilion where the “Transformation Conference 2009″ co-host by COOS and 40 other churches will be held.
[Note: the venue has been changed abruptly yesterday to Suntec Exhibition Hall 402 after we spilled on their ploy with the choice of EXPO as a venue]
In a weekend sermon posted on its website, Pastor Derek Hong urged the women in his flock to ‘be engaged’ and support Ms Lau and ‘her sisters’ at Aware. He said: ‘It’s not a crusade against the people but there’s a line that God has drawn for us, and we don’t want our nation crossing that line.’ (read article here)
Emails have been circulated by COOS members urging fellow Christians and friends to sign up for AWARE membership and turn up to support the new exco, one of which is by Dr Alan Chin, the husband of AWARE President Josie Lau. (read letter )
Under provision 24 of the Societies Act (CAP 311), the minister may order dissolution of any society whenever it appears to the minister that:
(a) any registered society is being used for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore;
(aa) the registration of any society has been procured by fraud or misrepresentation;
- (b) any registered society is being used for purposes incompatible with the objects and rules of the society;
[source: Statues of Singapore]
The present actions of the new AWARE exco have contravened the above three provisions under the Act:
1. Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-cultural society. The mobilizing of large numbers of Singaporeans in the name of religion to support the new exco at the EGM is prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore.
2. Many new members of AWARE have been urged by faith-based groups to sign up to support their religion. There is obvious misrepresentation of the values, principles and mission of AWARE as a non-religious, secular group whose purpose is to serve the interest of the women community in Singapore and not any particular religion.
3. AWARE is now used for purposes incompatible with the objects and rules of the society which is to promote an anti-homosexual agenda under the guise of a secular organization.
Furthermore, ROS needs to investigate possible misuse of AWARE funds by the new exco to ensure it stay on in power under provision 19 of the same Act:
Penalty for misuse of money or property of a registered society.
19. —(1) Where on complaint made by a member of a registered society or by the Registrar it is shown to the satisfaction of a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court that any officer or member of that society has in his possession or control any property of the society otherwise than in accordance with the rules of the society, or has unlawfully withheld any money of the society or wilfully applied such money to purposes other than those expressed or directed in the rules of the society and authorised by this Act, the Court shall, if it considers the justice of the case so requires, order the officer or member to deliver all such property to the trustees of the society or such other persons as the Court may appoint and to pay to them the money so unlawfully withheld or improperly applied.
AWARE is a NGO whose funds are contributed by many organizations including Buddhist temples. The cost of renting Suntec convention hall for its EGM is exorbitant and it must be justified by the new exco.
AWARE has no more than 500 members in the last 24 years of existence and its AGM is usually attended by less than a hundred people.
The sudden increase in membership over the last few weeks raised the question if the new members are joining AWARE out of a genuine interest to serve the society or are simply there to make up the numbers to support the new exco.
The hasty last minute change in the EGM venue would have caused AWARE to lose a few thousand dollars in forfeited deposit.
The engagement of Rajah & Tann to observe the proceedings at the EGM will probably run up to a few thousand dollars in legal fees.
The new exco needs to explain why AWARE has to incur such expenses in such a short span of time. Are the funds used to serve the interest of the society or to keep themselves in power?
In such a scenario, the actions of the new exco would have “wilfully applied such money to purposes other than those expressed or directed in the rules of the society.”
Therefore, there is a case for the Registry of Societies to dissolve AWARE with immediate effect and to conduct an investigation into the accounts of AWARE.
Concerned AWARE members may consider lodging a complaint directly to ROS to conduct a probe into the society’s accounts should the authorities continue to procrastinate.
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27 Responses to “Call for ROS to step in and dissolve AWARE for breaching provisions under Societies Act (CAP 311)”
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“[Note: the venue has been changed abruptly yesterday to Suntec Exhibition Hall 402 after we spilled on their ploy with the choice of EXPO as a venue]”
The States Times also published an article saying police requested the change.. wonder who informed the police… but in any case… well done Wayang Parrrtay…
Hi Alex,
No comments on that.
It is stated clearly in the article that CONCERNED AWARE members can lodge a complaint to ROS.
Let’s wait for the EGM first.
If the new exco manage to stay on in power, the authorities will probably move in.
Looking what this new group in AWARE is using religion as a tool for thier own agandas,become a cult group. The GOV should use ISA to detent them before it is too late.
> If the new exco manage to stay on in power, the authorities will probably move in.
As they rightly should!
I’m very surprised to see the Govt. and ROS taking such a passive stand on what is very obviously a very dangerous situation.
Head honchos from COOS should be investigated and hauled up to scrutiny for their illegal involvement here. They keep claiming the Church is not involved, yet the new Exco themselves have admitted the Church’s involvement in rallying support against what they perceive as wrong.
I can understand perhaps that the Govt and/or ROS doesn’t want to take action without some trigger, perhaps we should encourage members of the old Guard to launch official police complaints against this bunch.
I also received copy of E-mail forwarded to me that a church member from riverglories ministries asking all christian too vote against the Old AWARE. This saga have been getting out of hand. I agreed that the gov should intervene now, otherwise it will be too late.
really, hello, can stop asking for the government to come in and intervene in every damn thing or not? Calling in for the ROS or similar agency, now, this is really sore losing.
The government’s response has been too circumspect, which has emboldened COOS and their flock.
The Registrar of Societies should step in if the new Ex-Co is not removed at the EGM. The guilty parties should also be dealt with under the Penal Code and other relevant laws.
Operation Cold Store II to round up the *** fundies, anyone?
Singapore is multi-racial and multi-religious. But homosexual are not included under the ter “mulit-racial, multi-religious”. The because no religion would accept sexual perversion to begin with.
Even if AWARE takes an anti-sexual stance, it does not mean that such stance is against the rules of society because the religious community in Singapore is still large (mosque-goer, church-goer) and would certainly not accept homosexuality as a norm.
Dear Eugene how can section 24(aa) Societies Act be remotely applicable.
wondering if ISD will have enough facility to interrogate those whole bunch of troublemakers!
[...] previously – The Legal Janitor: Time for mainline churches to make a stand – The Wayang Party: Call for ROS to step in and dissolve AWARE for breaching provisions under Societies Act (CAP 311) – Sgpolitics: An open letter to Ms Josie Lau – Yawning Bread: Identity mobilisation – a threat to [...]
On the one hand, the Government is frequently portrayed as being heavy-handed in its treatment of civil society groups but now you all want its iron fist to descend on the new regime at AWARE!!
Perhaps we should and reflect on this and commend the Government for creating a harmonious, multi-faith society which is generally governed along secular lines. I think we have LKY to thank for that.
But yes, I must agree – please shut down AWARE. Let both camps set up new NGOs to further their respective causes. I don’t mind if people vehemently oppose homosexuality, but I just want my own children to be educated by MOE to think for themselves and debate the complex social policy issues thoroughly.
However, assuming your quotation of section 24 of the Societies Act is correct, your arguments for dissolution based on sub-sections (aa) and (b) are non-starters in my view. But section (a) sounds OK to me… “prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order”. We seem close to that already, and AWARE’s credibility as an NGO is already down the toilet.
Someone mentioned Operation Coldstore. I think Operation Spectrum is the more appropriate analogy. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I would much rather find a solution that satisfies both camps.
The on-going soap opera in Aware has sent disturbing ripples into the different corners of our society. Listen carefully to the various forums and you’ll hear disgruntled voices lending their support to either one of the camps. The gay haters, the Christian slammers, the die-hard fans of COOS, the lesbian well-wishers, MOE spitters, and so on. Anybody who has an agenda and is anti-so-and-so are inevitably drawn into this chasm to show their discontent towards another group. Aware is reduced to a noisy platform that draws division and brew antagonism. Such force of darkness is a threat to a small nation like Singapore.
Pastor Derek Hong from CHURCH of our Saviour has warned the nation not to cross the line drawn by God. I wonder if he truly knows what the line is. Lines are meant to divide. Any line that segregates mankind is certainly not the intention of the all-loving God. Christianity is about unity and forgiveness. “love thy enemy” remember?
Pastor Derek Hong, why not you give it a try and love the gays and lesbians in our community. If anyone can do it, I’m sure it will be a pastor of your stature. If you love your enemy, you’ll soon discover there is no enemy. Of course that doesn’t mean the gays and lesbians will all be converted to straights. You know jolly well you can’t exterminate them from the face of this society. But you can nonetheless eliminate your bias view and thus achieve a balance, non-opposing and peaceful state of mind. Love and discrimination don’t go hand in hand. You’ve to make up your mind whose side you are taking: the king of love or the prince of division. Under the roof of God, you’ve preach love for many years. Now is the time for you to show your church-goers that you can walk the talk and unite people who are different from you. You can’t seriously preach about the all almighty love of God in one hand and draw line to disunite our fellow Singaporeans in another.
Pastor Derek Hong,
You can love and lay down your differences.
Yes, you can.
You can lead your church-goers to love and lay down their differences.
Yes, they can.
You can lead the change and let the born-again Christian feminist mentor become a born-again-and-again Christian lovable grandma
Yes, she can
You can teach the new exco to love and not do unto others what they do not want others to do unto them
Yes, the girls can
In this hour of darkness, we need a pastor like you to lead us to embrace the glory of light through the power of love.
I know it’s hard for you to love a gay or a lesbian, given all these years of phobia, but let’s look at it this way, they too are the children of God. Go ahead, give them a hug…it’s ok. There’s nothing to be afraid of? Love them…the children of God. (But children, please keep your hands in your pockets and tongues in your mouths when the pastor is hugging).
So whether you’re a prejudiced pastor, a 50 year old gay, a lesbian who is forced into motherhood, a long forgotten KKK member, a defensive MOE principal, an angry old guard, a potential DBS staff waiting to be fired, a NMP who speaks with an artificial slang or a born-again-and-again Christian lawyer…let’s all hold our hands together…clasp ‘em tight…let’s lay down our difference and with our eyes close we now sing praises to the Lord…for His love has given us the strength to overcome our differences…perhaps if we’ve time after that we’ll also sing the theme song of Spider Lilies or Breakback Mountain. I’m sure we’ll all realize the truth eventually: we are breathing the same air, walking on the same earth, and also looking very much alike. There’s no need to antagonize each other. There is not much differences between us. We can love each other like brothers and sisters.
We must understand that a loving God would never want our nation to draw any line that divide us up…but a circle…yes forming a circle and holding our hands is more like it. If you’re worried you can put on a pair of glove or mittens, but don’t deprive yourself from the opportunity of feeling their presence and be a part of a big family.
Hallejujah!
If the AWARE saga is purely an internal affairs of a NGO or civic society, I am against the govt from interfering. That had been the govt stand based upon Dr Vivian statements early this week.
But I am sure the govt is also watching the development very closely. It is reflected by the fact that the police had advised Singapore Expo not to allow the booking of its venue for the EGM due to possible “law and order” concerns.
In reality, this saga has taken a life of its own and the circle of constituency is being widened daily with the numerous email sent out by the COOS and pro-new guard camp to garner support. Bear in mind these emails may also be received by neutral party or read by many thru blogs like wayangparty.
Besides taking issues with the old guards, MOE and schools (latest being ACJC over topics in GP lessons) have now been dragged into the arguments with the allegations that Dr Thio had made last week and the online petition raised to complain about the CSE programme to the Education Minister.
Church leaders are openly encouraging their congregation to support the new Exco using religion as the basis. Besides COOS, rumours have it that other churches may be encouraging their congregation to take sides. The anit-gay sentiments are continually being fanned. Emotions are running high.
So far, we know that the old guards of AWARE has organised a group of supporters to reclaim AWARE. Their action so far has been measured.
But we have not seen any organised action by the LGBT group. At least not openly so far. What if they decide to take action whatever that may be.
There is a real risk of what started out as an internal affairs of AWARE may develop into something divisive of national proportion. It is reasonable for the govt to keep a close watch without rattling their sabre yet. I will bet my last dollar that if the stakes continue to escalate and the risk rise to an unacceptable level to the govt, many people will be invited for “tea”.
Note: the venue has been changed abruptly yesterday to Suntec Exhibition Hall 402 after we spilled on their ploy with the choice of EXPO as a venue]
omg, wayangparty gives themselves too much credit on this. Please read that this happened not because of wayang party and that the venue was not changed by the new aware. Your lack of information yet need for boost of self-ego astounds me!
Hi Jack,
There are many things behind the scene which we cannot reveal here which will jeopardize our identities.
Why not you ask the new exco what happened yesterday?
When did they receive the call from the police? Why did the police choose to act?
Don’t comment on things which you have no information on. It will only make yourself look like a fool.
Muhammad Shamin said, Quote: “The because no religion would accept sexual perversion to begin with.”
Dun tok cok lah.
China and India NEVER criminalise gay sex and for the latter, until the evangelical Christian fundamentalists legislated AGAINST gay sex during the colonial era.
Ted Haggard, the disgraced pastor of the biggest evangelical church in the USA was and probably still is a PRACTICISING homosexual who was exposed by a male prostitute.
There are also openly GAY Christian pastors and Bishops in the Anglican Church and probably in other denominations as well.
LEAVE RELIGION out of society………..confine religious teachings and values WITHIN the Church/Mosque or other places of worship.
I cannot understand why the editor of an alternative news website in Singapore would suggest that the government dissolve one of the higher profile actors in civil society, not to mention one with a long and proud history.
I would have expected more from a website like Wayang party to advocate
1) greater space for discussion in Singapore
2) less government intervention in civil society
3) for the government to listen to the masses more often, and take our views seriously
Please be clear on where you stand. Articles like this don’t reflect well on your credibility or level of thoughtfulness.
Thanks for digging out the info on the Societies Act. Why don’t you also alert Save AWARE to it just in case?
Dear WP,
Two things:
1) “Don’t comment on things which you have no information on. It will only make yourself look like a fool.”
Is it just me, or have you also become a member of the All-Seeing and All-Knowing Club, you know, like the ones whom you love to chastise?
2) “There are many things behind the scene which we cannot reveal here which will jeopardize our identities.”
This bit sounds familiar too. So, why does this mantra okay for you but not for them?
WP had lost focus and seem to be on a witch-hunt over AWARE.
What make me think that yoru editorial board and sponsors are dominated by the likes of Yawning Bread?
WP is getting more and more strident over AWARE as if you lots got an axe to grind against AWARE?
What is your beef?
Well, the call to abolish AWARE is tame compared to what is at stake for the nation. Asking the new AWARE to resign is simply a face-saving exercise, things can turn ugly very quickly.
I will say that the majority of Christians are not vehemently against GBLTs. They may not agree with GBLTs but do not set out to attack them so long as their paths do not cross. However, there is a minority group (say 1% for illustration) that is dead set against GBLTs. These are the likes of Dr Thio. In order to gather support for their cause, the easiest way would be through magnification of little issues and then inciting support from a religious standpoint.
This is basically what i have been seeing from the new AWARE.
To put this issue in the context of a nation,those urging for more open discussion should also ask why government acted against Muslim extremists. 90% of the arguments for more space for Christian fundamentalists can be similarly applied to Muslim extremists. We know for sure Singapore govt took tough action against Muslim extremists. Did any one asked for more space for discussion then? No, we will told that they were dangerous, not allowed, and that is it.
There are in fact many similarities between Christian fundamentalists and Muslim extremists. The use of religion to incite, organised planning and coordination and execution of plans under a veil of secrecy.
This time round, the instigator (at least from what the public knows so far is Dr Thio), who is quite prominent in Singapore being owner of a law firm and with connections to PAP. The government of Singapore cannot afford to be seen as less lenient because the perpetrator is one of their own.
The public forgets that the Muslim community had to be asked to show restraint when the government acted against extremists.
When it comes to nation-building, the AWARE issue is but the tip of the ice-berg. The issues behind the AWARE issue are the real problems to solve. Singapore as a nation cannot afford anyone inciting the mob using religion as a platform.
I fully expect the government to move once the AWARE issue is blown over. Or in the case whereby the issue is not resolved and blown up, the govt will be forced to act.
Muhammad Shamin… i quote “religious community in Singapore is still large (mosque-goer, church-goer) and would certainly not accept homosexuality as a norm.”
Please get you facts right. The total percentage of Christians and Muslims in Singapore is 14.6% and 14.9% respectively. Hardly a majority. And there are 42.5% Buddhist, the majority.
Dear Muhammad Shamin. Contrary to what you believe, that the majority of Singaporeans are church and mosque goers, the majority of Singaporeans are Buddhist.
Resident population aged 15 years and over by religion
Religion Population Percentage
Total 2,494,630 100.0%
Buddhism 1,060,662 42.5%
Islam 371,660 14.9%
No religion 370,094 14.8%
Christianity 364,087 14.6%
Taoism/Chinese traditional beliefs 212,344 8.5%
Hinduism 99,904 4.0%
Sikhism 9,733 0.39%
Other religions 6,146 0.25%
Source: Census 2000. [2]
Hi Muhammad Shamin,
Just to let u know that the dominant teaching in Buddhism regarding homosexuality is that homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality in terms of spiritual and moral status.
You can check with Buddhist Fellowship and also you can refer to http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2008/05/gay-tragedy.html where the Buddhist monk Shravasti Dhammika, spiritual advisor to the Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society in Singapore, taught in that blog that “Sexual acts motivated by the usual intentions, feelings and emotions which exist between two people who love each other, would have a positive effect and would not infringe the third Precept, whether they be homosexual or heterosexual.”
So a secular organisation should not side with the dominant Christian teaching that homosexuality is sinful. It must remain neutral to be fair to Buddhism’s affirmative stance on homosexuality.
Wow, ObviousMan on Fri, 1st May 2009 10:00 am
you punch the nail on the skull.,dead right buddy.
If we aggregate Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, no-religion, Sikhism, and others, we get more than 70% non-Christian, non-muslim. And if we take those against anti-gay or homophobic, the percentage may even move higher to 80% or more.