LIVE from Suntec: AWARE EGM, 2 May 2009
May 2, 2009 by Field Reporter
Filed under Headlines
From The Field Report Team
Our team of freelance reporters will be bringing you the EGM LIVE from Suntec City.
This page will be updated along the way to bring you the latest developments.
[Note to team: please do not duplicate reports, instructions as per given in email last night, please check your mailbox, those on holding list, please confirm if you are available asap]
Special thanks to Bernard Low, Prapti, Soh L Y, Michelle Ong, Chang Z G
9.30pm: The EGM has ended proper. Freelancers and associate bloggers, please email us your reports, reports and audio recordings latest by 2pm, 3 May 2009.
9.20pm: Constance Singam thanked everybody present for their support. There is joy and ebullience in the air.
9.16pm: Constance Singam asked the audience to give the outgoing exco a round of applause which they gamely obliged.
9.15pm: New exco appeared. Josie Lau: “The exco has graciously decided to step down and we wish Aware all the best in its future endeavors.”
9.01pm: Nomination for President: Dana Lam nominated by Constance Singam and seconded by Lena Lim as President. No other nominations. Dana Lam elected as new Aware President. Vice-President is Chew I Jin. Hononary Secretary is Yap Ching Wi, assistant secretary is Corrina Lim, honorary treasurer is Tan Joo Hymn, assistant treasurer is Lim Seow Yuin, committee members – Joanne D’ Cruz, Hafizah Osman, Martha Lee, Margaret Thomas, Nancy Griffths, Nicole Tan.
9.00pm: “We hereby agree that voting from now on will be by show of hands. Anybody who object, please stand up. Nobody. So we will vote by hand.”
8.50pm: “Tbe motion is: the entire exco is removed from office and a new exco elected. Those who are against this motion, please raised your hands now. One lady in red at her back raised her hand. All right, only two objections, the motion is passed!”
8.45pm: New exco nowhere to be seen. “We hereby declare that the new exco has resigned!” Aware moving into next stage to elect new office holders by show of hands.
8.40pm: “We are now calling for Ms Josie Lau, President of Aware to assume her position at her chair now.”
8.25pm: Old guards moving into next phase to file motion of no confidence in the new exco to remove them should they decide not to resign. An election will be held later to select new office bears after the motion is passed.
8.20pm: Constance Singam gives the new exco 5 minutes to consider resigning.
8.16pm: Siew Kum Hong: “From Article 9 of Aware Constitution, the members of the general assembly have the right to remove Aware today.”
8.15pm: Legal counsel: “Though the vote of confidence is not legal binding, the new exco should consider resigning. It is only courtesy and common sense to resign after losing in a vote of confidence.”
8.14pm: “You have not lost in the court of law, but in the court of opinion, so please GO!!”
8.12pm: New Aware exco voted out during EGM, but still refuse to resign! Crowd refused and kept chanting: “resign, resign, resign!”
8.11pm: Margaret Thomas asked the new exco to resign graciously which they say they will consider.
8.10pm: The new exco has LOST the mandate and confidence of its members!!
8.05pm: Results are out for resolution no 3: 1414 for yes and 761 for no!! Vote of no confidence passed by a margin of 1,414 to 761 votes.
8.04pm: I just sign up for Aware at 9am today. As a leadership team, I expect you to be familiar with the Constitution, if every single thing you have to refer to the legal counsel who is an outsider, how are you going to lead?
8.02pm: “Would you Ms Josie Lau respect my regime if I just take over your Aware one day like what you did?”
8pm: “Leadership is not by position only, leadership has to earn respect. If you have no prior experience in Aware, how are you going to earn respect? Is there now a basis in the takeover now that COOS has openly said it did not support your actions, wouldn’t it better to step down now?
7.56pm: “I have always followed Aware. Aware is not about gay issues, it is about working for women, it was started in 1986 when there were alot of battered wives. Aware is an intelligent organization who does research on how to improve its work. We cannot help alone, we have to work with the men to help women. Aware is about inclusiveness, to help everybody, male or female, regardless of their sexual orientation. I am always have deep respect of Aware, but never feel the need to join Aware because I trust it in the hands of intelligent women who have put Singapore on the international map, but until recently, I felt I have to join Aware because I was alarmed that Aware should fall into the hands of a group of women which I have absolutely no confidence at all. I listened to how they talked, they can’t even answer my questions in completeness and I asked myself what is going to happen to the good work of Aware to land in a group like this? This is worrying, so I decided to pay $40, line up for 2 hours just for one purpose – to cast my vote of NO CONFIDENCE, and I ask them, after this meeting, how do you carry on? Dr Thio, you said you are a feminist mentor to women in Singapore. With due respect to you, I would not like you to be my mentor.”
7.55pm: We are not here because we are avaricious, we are not here because we are gay or lesbians, we are not here because we are sexual perverts. We are here because we are deeply troubled how this exco came into power and the lack of respect for the values of pluralism, democracy that this new exco has demonstrated. We are here because we believe woman are intelligent and rational enough to make our own choices on how a good life is. We are here to protect the rights and integrity of women everywhere.”
7.50pm: “I am a life member of Aware. I speak as a life member and also a Christian. I observe with alarm how this new excp have gained leadership through ?dirty means though constitutional, how this new exco has displayed its leadership through conflicting accounts of aware and immediate dismissal of staff, a particular narrow Christian interpretation regarding sex education. This exco’s leadership sets a dangerous precedent for Aware, civil society and Singapore society in general, there is total disregard for the process of trust, respect and transparency which others have worked so hard to develop. This exco’s leadship has tarnished the good name of Christianity. It is also a setback to the constructive processes of dialogue between Christians, secularists and other religion which takes time to develop in Singapore, as such, I have no confidence in your leadership to be a good example to Singaporeans.
7.45pm: “I am a teacher and a minority. Does the panel know what it is like to be marginalized? We have to give a voice to the marginalized. I was so disturbed so much so I came up. Aware was formed a quarter of a century ago, so much hsa been done. Do you want your daughter to be treated less of a person because she isn’t sure of her sexuality?”
7.36pm: “You have sent us an email to dissolve the committee. It becomes the actions of the volunteers what they want to do and the exco have not shown interest in the work of the committee. As a member of civil society, we debate openly, we do not shut the doors on anybody. You need to be taught how to debate in a civil society.You have not shown us that when you took over the organization.”
7.35pm: “I think the previous exco is perfectly capable of manning its own Constitution and if we ever flouted it, all it does is for a member to write in to ROS and action will follow suit. It is impossible to understand that what you have been trying to do when from the first day, you are reluctant to tell us and now you said you want to follow what the old committee is doing.”
7.30pm: “1st point to Dr Thio Su Mien, she said in the press that she disagreed with the old aware point that homosexuality is neutral, in Buddhism, heterosexuality = homosexuality. Even HPB says that being a lesbian doesn’t make you less normal. The new exco kept saying that they are legally and constitutionally elected, but as leaders of NGO, you also need respect and trust and from what you see here, the trust is not there, the best option is for the new Aware exco to resign on their own accord. Fine, if you want to go by the Constitution, let us talk about the $90,000 spent!”
7.25pm: “I joined AWARE in 2004 – 2006….I am observing, sorry no offence, there is no leadership in the new exco, it doesn’t make sense at all to spend $90,000.”
7.22pm: “I am a Christian and the Lord asks us to embrace all! As a NGO, we struggled hard to get money. Now $90,000 is gone in an instance. This is SHAMEFUL!!!”
7.20pm: “You have misappropriated funds as far as I see. What’s wrong of reaching out first? You are in a position of power….You wondered why we are so angry, but at the beginning, you are the ones who erased our voices and we are not the ones going around to remove people. We are not causing any physical harm and you are calling your guards to remove us, is this fair? How can I respect you when you are treating me like a child? And you are so rude to us! How can I believe that you are going to campaign for equality for women when you don’t treat us equally.”
7.15pm: “I am a Muslim with 3 daughter. I was a criminal investigator. In the course of my work, I have seen so much fear of women that they are not worthy of men. I support the work done by the old Aware…We need to have evidence, the spirit of inquiry to enable our ladies to make informed choices and because of that, I would be very proud of my daughter to go through the CSE programme. And I have one regret being a father, I regret that my daughters are not here today to witness the spirit of the women at Aware today.”
7.10pm: Clarie Nazar: “I resigned on 30 April 2009. The reason for my resignation is that if you have been more inclusive, I would not have resigned in the first place. I have been excluded from exco meetings and sidelined.”
7.05pm: Braema Mathi: “My reputation is being put on the line and I don’t like it, but I will not follow the examples of leaders and launch defamation lawsuits against you!”
6.55pm: “We have told you that the report is in the process of being prepared, why are you still badgering Braema when she is overseas? When you removed Braema, all of us at CEDAW wrote in a letter of protest, but you didn’t even have the courtesy to give us a reply!”
6.51pm: “We do not have a draft report to give to you because the volunteers are still conducting their research. Braema Mathi is willing to give you a verbal update, but you refuse.”
6.50pm: Braema: “I replied two days later apologizing for the delay and explaining for the delay and asked for a meeting to discuss the CEDAW report.”
6.47pm: “The reason why Braema Mathi is removed because she had not sent us the report in spite of the numerous reminders.”
6.43pm: “As a NGO, money is a big thing! We have to build networks to reach out to everybody. This corporate culture clashes with Aware as a NGO which alot is about consensus, inclusiveness and working for nothing.”
6.41pm: “I feel very sad to come to a woman’s organization where its President asked us to ’shut up and sit down’. Today is the time to speak out, not shut up and sit down, never!” (applause broke out)
6.40pm: Mr Lim Wee Lim, an accountant: “I am from COOS and I am not ashamed to admit that. I would like to clarify that COOS did not ask its members to come here to promote Christianity. Please be rational, although $90,000 is spent, but we have recouped it by the new membership fees of $120,000.”
6.34pm: “I am a trainer in the CSE. The three words – anal sex, homosexuality and lesbianism are only mentioned in one and a half minute out of 3 hours of the programme of which half is spent on promoting abstinence – how to refuse sex. The material is meant to be private and confidential and for the person to put it online is downright irresponsible.”
6.32pm: “I am a Christian and I have sex education in secondary school. I am for a system which enabled people to make informed choices and not to make judgement on others. We need to give that choice.”
6.30pm: Josie quoted some study from Utah that abstinence is important to help reduce sexual activity amongst adolescents much to the chagrin of the audience.
6.26pm: “I would like to clarify about the CSE, if you not aware, 15 years of research showed that CSE is inclusive and appropriate in its teaching of use of condoms and to discuss a wide range of sexual techniques and study have shown that such a programme will delay onset of sexual activity and promote safer sexual activity and behavior leading to decrease in HIV infection rates at later life, so I don’t understand why you are discrediting this programme. As a parent myself, I would like my child to go through this programme. Just discussing a wide range of sexual behavior does not make one a homosexual. Your child won’t come back and say ‘Hey, I want to marry a person of same sex!”
6.25pm: “You have destroyed Aware, an organization with 25 years of proud history. Go and start another organization of your own!”
6.22pm: “The new exco has used such a large sum of money without approval from its members. Can we report it to the Commissioner of Charities?” [legal counsel refused to answer, claimed it is outside his purview]
6.20pm: Constance Singam appealed to the audience to accept the result of the ballot, whichever it turns out, in good spirit.
6.16pm: “I am a legal advisor of the old guard. I would offer legal advice to Aware pro bono. If you have asked for help from the old guards, you would have to be able to obtain free legal advice. Did you ask?
6.15pm: Legal counsel: “Under Article 18 of the Constitution, it is stipulated that the exco is not authoritzed to spend more than $20,000 for purposes of the society without approval of its members via a secret ballot.
6.12pm: “I would like to ask the legal counsel for opinion about the new exco spending $70,000 more that the legal limits set by Aware’s constitution (applause broke out).
6.06pm: “I am an academic in Singapore and I would like to clarify something about feminism. You can cannot speak out for a marginalized group like women without speaking up for all marginalized groups regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. I have traveled all over the world and everybody I spoke to has high regards for Aware. Today, Aware has an international profile which is respected by human rights activists, please don’t undermine the international credibility of aware by your thoughtless actions.
6.05pm: Results will be out in 10 minutes.
6.02pm: “This is ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING. You have spent $70,000 above the accepted limit!!!”
6.00pm: Josie Lau: “The estimate cost of the legal counsel is NINTY THOUSAND or $90,000!!!” (no joke, you are not hearing wrongly.
5.55pm: ”I understand that a legal counsel cost ten of thousands. Please give me an estimate on how much Aware has spent on the legal counsel even if you cannot give me an accurate figure.
5.51pm: “It is very bizzare to say that just because we propose allowing associate male members to vote, we are promoting homosexuality. This shows you are not ready to lead the organization at all.”
5.50pm: Josie said she will send lesbians who are discriminated for counselling. Somebody from the crowd shouted: “but we don’t trust you!!”
5.45pm: “I am gay and I am concerned about the new exco saying homosexuality is not okay. I feel terribly insulted. Please do not impose your values on everybody. Sorry, this is not personal.”
5.40pm: I am Chiang, an event organizer. I am surprised you spent so much money on the event. Renting a place at $18,000 and paying for an event organizer should not have happened. You should be asking around for people to help, to ask for somebody to offer a free stage, if you have called me, I would have organized it for free. I am SHOCKED, I don’t know where my $40 is going. If, IF you survive this no-confidence vote, please put a lawyer on the exco and you won’t need a legal counsel, every single cent should go to the people you wanted to help!!
5.36pm: What is your stance on the male chapter of men? I am very worried about that.
5.31pm: Josie explained that the costs are being compounded and urged the audience to be patient. She pleaded for understanding that the new exco has very little time to handle the matter.
5.30pm: I Jin, the assistant treasurer claimed she has not been consulted on all maters proper by the new exco.
5.26pm: Josie explained that she has to outsource the event organizing to the Boardroom due to the short notice the EGM was called.
5.25pm: “To Josie, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I emailed you asking to meet so that we can work out the organization of the EGM together, but you are reluctant to do so.”
5.22pm: “The point is not whether you have spent over the $20,000. The point is you need to seek the members’ approval. You are NOT ABOVE THE LAW, you cannot change the Constitution to serve your own personal purpose.
5.21pm: Josie: “tell me how you will handle this situation.”
5.20pm: “I am a practising lawyer and you have breached ?ultra vibes the constitution by spending over the limit! The maximum amount you are allowed to spend is $20,000 and anything above, we the members reserve the legal right to…”
5.17pm: Questioner pressed on why new exco spent more than $20,000. Maureen explained that she had no choice as the membership has exceeded 3,000 this week and she has to get Hall 403 as well which cost $5,000. (crowd booed).
5.16pm:Maureen revealed that the Suntec venue cost $18,000, so the new exco has most likely over-spent the $20,000 limit.
5.15pm: Maureen Goh explained that Singapore EXPO venue was cancelled because police is concerned about law and order issues.
5.10pm: Josie Lau refused to answer the question directly, asked lady to sit down as she has asked more than 1 question, lady refused to go away, Josie asked security to “escort” her off.
5.07pm: Question asked about Aware’s spending. Under Aware’s constitution, Aware only allowed to spend no more than $20,000 a month.
5.05pm: Question raised about why new exco asked Constance Singam to leave the meeting. Josie replied that she was asked to leave because “sensitive issues” are being discussed.
5.01pm: Josie explained that Shultz Lee was sacked for insubordination and that the interim manager was recruited from COOS because she was immediately available.
4.55pm: Josie claimed she was given no opportunity to explain herself to members and was “played out” by the media.
4.51pm: Josie explained that she did not know Sally, Jenica or Maureen before the Aware AGM. She reiterated that she was invited by Claire Nazar to join Aware to help out in the marketing.
4.50pm: The crowd is fielding questions at the new exco who kept pleading to give them a right of reply.
4.45pm: New exco referred to legal counsel again if constitutional amendments should proceed.
4.40pm: Legal counsel asked for show of hand who oppose continuing the debate on the constitutional amendments. The majority of the crowd raise up their hands.
4.35pm: New members protest against the constitutional amendments as many have not read it here. One proposed it to be postponed to the next AGM.
4.32pm: Thio Su Mien? called the crowd hooligans. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”
4.31pm: Josie Lau wants to go through the constitutional amendments, somebody from the crowd asked her to step down till the vote count is completed as she may not be the President anymore.
4.30pm: Voting has been completed. Votes are being tabulated now.
4.25pm: The red shirts are leaving droves after casting their votes, this is obviously a wayang.
4.15pm: Voting now in process.
4.11pm: Siew Kum Hong speaking. I ask the legal counsel what the legal option should be to monitor the voting process.
4.10pm: The voting begins. Ballot boxes are being passed around.
4.07pm: Thio Su Mien forced to stop her speech. Crowd kept chanting – “We are Aware! We are Aware! We are Aware!!”
4.02pm: Thio Su Mien going to speak, crowd BOOED!!! “I believe I am a feminist mentor because…, please show some civility” (crowd kept interrupting). “Listen to me, I was….you have NO RESPECT FOR THE ELDERS” (BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) “I was the first female law dean..”…ORDER, ORDER, please listen!!
4.01pm: Thio Su Mien going to speak, crowd BOOED!!! “I believe I am a feminist mentor because…”
4.00pm: I am a new member and previously unaware of aware and not I am aware of aware after today. You have shown no respect to others, this is not God’s follower. It is totally deceptive.
3.57pm: I join AWARE only 3 weeks ago and I support a vote of vote against the new exco. For those of you sitting out there supporting the new exco, they are all of the same race, the same faith and worship in the same place.
3.56pm: As a non-Christian, I am suspicious of your insidious motives to take over Aware and for the first time of my life, I am afraid of Christians.
3.55pm: Is it not true that you (Josie) have been not open and honest with us from the very beginning? I am worried that if you stay on in Aware, you may change the fundamental mission of Aware! You and your team are not qualified to lead this organization.
3.50pm: New exco request for the right of reply, crowd won’t allow.
3.46pm: Constance Singam speaking. You have to trust and honor the achievements of the old guards over the last few years. Where were you when women are abused and battered in their homes? Where were you when women are denied equal medical benefits? Where were you??? Crowd chanted “Where were you??”
3.45pm: I am Irene Ng, a Christian and I do not support the new exco. Josie said she wanted to help women tide over this economic downturn, but the first thing she did as Aware president is to fire the center’s manager, a woman!
3.45pm: I am a new member and I would like to highlight to you that you have not heard from the new members because the mikes are off. If you know the Singapore pledge…to build a democratic society built on justic and equality..where is the equality when you deliberately left out exco members from the old guards from your meeting, one more point, congratulations on the increase in your membership, but it is not because of you guys, but because of the old guards of aware who built it up all these years. I would remain as a member if the old guards returned (crowd went into frenzy).
3.41pm: Josie Lau invited legal counsel yet again to explain about the sacking of the subcommittees.
3.40pm: Braema Mathi speaking. I struggle over what is your (Josie) character….,but today is even more disappointing. We have written to the members of the exco, can we have a civil discussion on how to run this meeting and today we are being treated like children (crowd stand up and wave!!!) On that alone, 1 100% convinced that you are not the right representative for this association.
3.35pm: Dana Lam speaking. She said Josie’s actions and words during the last 2 weeks have shown she is not a suitable leader for Aware, crowd burst into applause. Dana castigates Josie for dismissing long-serving staff and volunteers of AWARE and paid for sophisticated CCTV for the center for a woman center which is meant to be a safe place for women. This act of yours alone shows that you are in the wrong seat for our association (crowd erupted into applause). I propose now…I support the vote of non-confidence.
3.30pm: Voting going to commence soon, instructions being given to members.
3.25pm: Haji Mohamad, a practising lawyer stands up to rebut legal counsel’s opinion that no-confidence motion has no legal binding under the Aware constitution.
3.21pm: Legal counsel speaking now to clarify certain matters.
3.20pm: ?Constance called for vote of no confidence in the exco, too far to see face clearly, crowd stood up and applauded, think about 60% of the crowd. Josie ignored demands and moved on to list the agenda.
3.15pm: Josie showing membership statistics, AGM in 2008 shows AWARE is losing membership of younger women, since the media publicity, there is a surge in membership to over 3,000 as of yesterday.
3.10pm: Josie talking about the controversial CSE, claimed she will be talking to MOE shorting about it.
3.04pm: Sally Ang to crowd: “NO DISRUPTION, SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!” crowd went beserk!!! “OUT! OUT! OUT!” Josie apologized for her “outburst”, more boos from the crowd.
3.01pm: Josie still continuing, the crowd is getting agitated and restless. Josie talked about her plans for AWARE and the history of AWARE over the years. Josie stopped by Constance?, “Sorry Josie, you are over your 3 minutes”, crowd cheering!!
3.00pm: Josie finally began her President’s address, essentially what she said in the media on how she came to become the President because Nazar resigned halfway and nobody wants to take up the position. She reminded audience that her exco is legally elected and is based on nomination and proper electoral process not on any religion. (somebody shouted from the crowd, can’t hear what). “I would like to state categorically that COOS is not INVOLVED” (boos from crowd)
2.59pm: Josie asked security to remove those who are jeering!!!
2.57pm: Josie Lau’s speech kept getting interrupted by the crowd who demanded the mike to be turned on and questions allowed to the floor. Josie Lau asked legal counsel to ‘advise’ again
2.53pm: Security ignore Josie, audience ignore Josie, continued CLAPPING !!!
2.51pm: Josie: “I am the President and I preside over the meeting!!! SIT DOWN!!! Security, please escort anybody disrupting the meeting OUT NOW!!!”
2.50pm: For a second time, Josie Lau called on the security to stop unruly behavior. Crowd now shouting “turn on the mike”!!! Maureen Ong – “Please escort anybody caught making noise OUT!!! Security PLEASE NOW immediately!!”
2.47pm: Legal Counsel asked crowd to give Josie Lau opportunity to address the members.
2.45pm: Josie Lau clarifying – “I join AWARE because I am interested in women issues, education and gender equality. I was keen to join as EXCO member, unfortunately on April 8, Ms Nazar resigned…Crowd keep shouting, she stopped.
2.43pm: a new guard supporter speaks, somebody from the crowd ask her to SHUT UP!! OMG, when did Singaporean women become so politically active??
2.40pm: Josie cut short her President’s speech, (damned malu), legal counsel speaking now.
2.38pm: Now President’s Address: ‘never expect such a huge turnout, AGM in 2006 atended by only 30 members, today we have over 2,000 people. Thanks for registration to support AWARE. Crowd is shouting, interrupting Josie…ORDER PLEASE!! Let me get past with my president’s speech. Crowd won’t allow, keep interfering.
2.37pm: Josie Lau introduces herself, round of BOOOOO goes from the crowd!!!
2.36pm: Constance Singam fired the first question – why seats allocated for associate members, crowd erupted into a frenzy, CLAP……..!!! The atmosphere is ELECTRIFYING!!
2.35pm: The battle begins!! Many qauestions being fielded at the same time, macham cat-fight! Josie Lau getting irriated, crowd is SHOUTING!!! Josie Lau called security to step in…HUSH..
2.35pm: the new exco arrived, EGM started proper, no flash photography or video recording, voting via secret ballot, Rajah and Tan to present point ?3 over. Josie Lau as Chairwoman of the EGM shall preside over the entire meeting. Each individual is only allowed to ask one question, please observe meeting etiquette, do not use crude language.
2.30pm: Our server is getting loaded, may crash later, for those of you with twitter account, follow us at http://www.twitter.com/wayangparty.
2.25pm: You are tuning in to The Wayang Party, Singapore’s No 1 socio-political blog. The queue is getting longer. For those of you who wants to support the old guard, registration is still ON, go to level 4 outside exhibition hall 402 and ask for the counter.
2.20pm: video-recording not permited, DO NOT FILM secretly, we will not be responsible for any mishaps, change to Plan 3 as outlined.
2.11pm: Latest announcment – meeting ‘delayed’ as there are still many people outside.
2.10pm: T4 in already, guys can skip the main queue, go straight to level 4 to register as associate members.
2.00pm: WHAT THE……..The BIGGEST congregation of Singapore women, beats even the big Singapore sale, truly AMAZING!! Since when did our ladies become so siao ON???
1.35pm: all sectors take note, no obligation to provide particulars when asked, just smile and keep quiet when probed.
1.30pm: somebody get hold of the bus-driver and company, documentary proof who pay for the buses, $50 for the invoice.
1.25pm: tape conversation to prove red shirts from COOS, $25 per mp3 clip.
1.20pm: anybody out there take a photo of the red shirts bus number, will pay $10 per photo.
1.1opm: the red shirts are arriving by busloads, was going to take a pic when stopped, wtf.Q!
12.55PM: the queue too long, now at level 3, don’t think they will be able to register all by 2pm.
12.25pm: the registration is too slow, too many people crowding.
12.20pm: admin: the server is very slow….please rectify it, cannot log in at all.
12.10pm: Somebody should come and see this man, how can the old guards win, impossible lah! better pack up and balek kampung.
12.05pm: No red-shirts want to be interviewed, under instruction not to talk to media.
12.00pm: WOW, what an atmosphere!! The entire place is swarmed with white and red shirts….seemed like got a bit more red shirts.
11.50pm: Readers are welcome to join us by posting comments here about the event.
11.40pm: Registration commences earlier, more than 500 people now…the sever is very slow, please do something about it.
11.30am: hey boss, the network is not good here, can’t log in after a few tries, will have to conserve battery.
11.15am: AWARE members who are attending the EGM and wishes to contribute to this field report, please email us at wayangparty@hotmail.com for your account name and password. For new members who have not been in touch with us before, you will need to furnish us with proof of your membership. Roger over.11am: Nothing unusual about Suntec today, the crowd is slightly lesser than normal though, will go for a quick bite first.
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Alwin Loi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:04 am
damn cool! soccer match can’t ever beat this one
stronghole on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:16 am
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_371407.html
“Several old guard members who turned up at 9am were told by event organisers to leave the voting area as it was ‘neutral ground’. The women in red shirts, however, appear to have free access to the event location.”
theken on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:22 am
woohoo ! this live reporting is great
Solo Bear on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:28 am
got webcam or not? I want to eat my chips and relax on my sofa.
Tan CH on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:34 am
Just read from other website,both new and old guard supporter wearing differnt colour shirt.They are forming two distinctive groups there.
Kaine on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:44 am
Sheeeeeee…… Alwin,dont talk, watch quietly….. hahaha …
actually whatever the outcome is, whether or not the motion of no-confidence is carried, Jose Lau and the dark forces have already lost the battle, and they all will suffer socialphobic for the rest of their lives…
Eterna2 on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:49 am
ST have more exciting LIVE reporting leh.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_371407.html
Andrew Chan on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:55 am
Dudes/dudettes, reverse the chronological order of your update posts…. that way people don’t have to scroll right to the bottom to read the latest postings.
Haven’t you guys ever done this before, or seen it done? Come’on.
stronghold on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:04 pm
Are there any non red/white shirts? ie. general public
Is the showdown that organised?
stronghold on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:08 pm
Please also ask the Red shirts whether they are from a Church, since NCSS mentioned that they do no condone any Churches who take part in the event =)
maxonlife on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:23 pm
Is there a subscription to SMSes available? heehee…
stronghold on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:34 pm
Live update from suntec, the Q has extended all the way from Level 4 to Level 3.
Sniper on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:41 pm
Hey! If they are voting on constitutional amendments other than no confidence/confidence in new exco, they MIGHT just change the rules allowing men to vote! Depending on the gender makeup of both sides, this can alter the real number of voters.
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:48 pm
Wow that’s some reporting. The reporter is leaving! YOu did not pay him enough!
stronghold on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:49 pm
Sniper, I think it’s already chaotic enough just with the women there…
Eterna2 on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:50 pm
SmS subscription would be good…
i’ll on the move, but my crappy hp have no surfing capabilities…
Ekar0421 on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:50 pm
Who red and who white?
stan on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:51 pm
It does not seem like all women are treated equally. I believe the new guard will win. since they already push away all the old guard and their supporters. It goes to show… to win.. all they have to do is reject all who seems like old guard and old guard supporters.
stronghold on Sat, 2nd May 2009 12:55 pm
Some details of the ST report shown earlier was removed. A screenshot of the original report:
http://leeweimeng.com/static/st371407.png
anon on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:00 pm
And if you all want even more up-to-date reporting don’t forget twitter, search for #awaresg
AL on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:09 pm
Hello! Who is red shirt, who is white shirt?
Sniper on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:10 pm
I believe there were guarantees on we-are-aware.sg that whoever registered to turn up would definitely be allowed to attend. Might it be possible that additional seating space in other rooms with video transmission would be able to house everyone? Also, if the redshirts were arriving by busload as rumours suggest, they might be there in large numbers due to having all arrived early and at once. Old guard supporters are arriving singly and might turn up later.
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:12 pm
I cannot bear to see these injustice…I am going down now to get counted!
TWC on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:19 pm
The xxx may well be on their way to a Pyrrhic victory but today – the free citizen’s Battle of Alamo and Pearl Harbour – will also be the start of a Secularist Movement to defend Singapore from religious extremism.
fly on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:21 pm
Looks like the god squad is more organised than we thought. But no moral victory with the rest of us. Even if they win, there would be no credibility whatsoever, ever!
Yuki on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:29 pm
Go Old Guard!!
I’m sorry I can’t sit-in personally today, but I’m totally supporting you!!
AL on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:35 pm
WOW! Look like all the regrets and warning were just a PR Stunt! They are going to take over AWARE anyway!
All the rest of the religions are being subdue by Christianity now! They all look silly, by supporting Dr. Chew who obviously lying to his teeth too!
God safe Singapore?
Ekar0421 on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:36 pm
Did they take temperature or not? So crowded place, AWARE!
Danny on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:45 pm
Alamak…sounds like this is a kelong match leh…no live commentary?
stronghold on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:45 pm
Anonymous: Go! Gambatte!
hokkien peng on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:47 pm
knnbccb !
Told chiu rite ?
Say one thing do another, throw smokescreen…
Sure come bu busloads one…c, now cum true! who has better experience, resources & network than Thio Su Mien’s clique – no forget she mentor for more than 10 years leow ! One email, all sleeper cells wake up, wear red t-shirt, all said ‘no comments’, all come to ensure VICTORY for the holy warriors !
David on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:49 pm
Seems Wayangparty’s live report the only LIVE active source !
Online Citizen live report like hang or stoned oredy, no updates since 12:17pm, can’t read comments also….
theken on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:51 pm
to the guys being blocked from taking photos…
Do they have any 100% legal right to stop you from taking photos in the suntec area and/or of the aware event…which is not a ’security sensitive’ event
at most they will start to get physical with you…in that case you will have the right to go to the police..i dont think they dare to push things so far
looks like some people out there just want to bully other singaporeans and hide the ugly truth..
epl on Sat, 2nd May 2009 1:55 pm
red shirt vs white shirts???
wah Man Utd vs Spurs ah!!!
Snoop on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:01 pm
Heard from friends that red shirt claimed to have given voting forms but they didn’t! That’s so unfair.
ann bashi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:12 pm
I am following this from Perth. Thanks for the update. Supporting the Old guard, i volunteered before i left Spore in 2003. Family still in Spore so i do care whats happening back home.I wish i am there. Please God let the Old Guard of Aware WIN for all of us. If old guard lost then this can happen to any other secular associations ….
Vote of Opposition on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:20 pm
Dear WP,
I am glad that WP cannot sneak a camera in to a conference just liked they did without permission at COOS service.
Funny, “Neutral on homosexuality” & “Anal sex can be healthy” seem to be ignored……..
Yuki on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:21 pm
I’ve signed the online petition, Jia You Old Guard of AWARE!!
Preserve the original aware values, don’t let those religious new exco affects you!! Keep Fighting all the way~ We’re rooting for all the old guards!!
renny on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:22 pm
@stronghold: Kudos for getting screenshot out of that. i read it just now and just realized its gone. i’m publishing it on facebook now to spread the ‘lost’ word. *winks*
If the new guard wins, Singapore’s gonna be in for a field time man. I’ll reckon that many will be disappointed and distrustful of what to expect for the future vision of AWARE. I smell increasing boycotts for certain products. this is a sad turn out for a cat fight that could’ve been solved amicably.
robin on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:24 pm
“2.15pm: damned, security confiscate my videocam, cannot take videos lah, shld check it out earlier, there goes my $200.”
unless it is the proper authority with proper power, no one has the right to confiscate your properties. make sure you get your videocam back.
hokkien peng on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:25 pm
Wahlau ! I tot moderator sure junk my dialect comment.
Thks for letting me have my say…
Anyway, my Ah Siew is inside oredy. If anything undemocratic, Kum Hong will raise in Parliament. Dun worry !
Wahlau ! confiscate videocam leow ! What about phone wif videocam – take away yr phone also? Wat if you record audio only, they can’t tell rite, as long as there is someone who can provide RAW transcript of EGM !
Kaine on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:27 pm
I think this is a show down by COOS and TSM & Co to show the government how strong and how well organised they can be when they want to get things done.
This looks to me to be just like a fire-drill for COOS & TSM & Co. to test out how efficient and how effective their “operation aware – part 2″ can be. Operation Aware – part 1 was the takeover of Aware.
Now that the damage is done and irreversible, and they mobile bus loads of red shirt church supporters ( 4000 from COOS and more from other churches) to come and queue up for registration , so as to also block the registration of white shirt supporters. Wow,, only those know legal and corporate battles well can coup with such strategies.
All the apologies and reassurance now from Pastor Hong shows it all………….. HYPOCRITES….
randommindlessness on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:47 pm
WTF….this more like WWE……LMAO
Oh great, okay this is entertaining.
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:49 pm
happening man, but ah, i have to keep refreshing this page. WP, can u consider doing something like a liveupdate like soccernet? It’s so cool la.
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:49 pm
u guys should twitter and post onto your web simultaneously. it’s automated and is possible. then people can follow the action while on the move through their handphones or other mobile web devices.
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 2:54 pm
So inside got more red or white shirts, ah? Dun keep us in suspense ler!
Imaginarist on Sat, 2nd May 2009 3:08 pm
I am following this in my shop..Thanks for updating…
I really hope tat the old guard will win…
Sniper on Sat, 2nd May 2009 3:09 pm
Heh…this is fun! Thanks, reporters, for the commentary!
spurman on Sat, 2nd May 2009 3:33 pm
Come on you Spurs
jammyjam on Sat, 2nd May 2009 3:39 pm
Thank you WK for updating those unable to attend the EGM to support the old guard.
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 3:49 pm
Eh? You guys loosing to TOC ler. Webpage sooo sloow. Almost like going to crash. TOC got photos, some more. Cannot lidat lah. Next time, should beef up server if gonna do something like this again, or just create a sparse low bandwidth page specially lor.
fireinthehole on Sat, 2nd May 2009 4:04 pm
3.45pm: I am Irene Ng, a Christian and I do not support the new exco. Josie said she wanted to help women tide over this economic downturn, but the first thing she did as Aware president is to fire the center’s manager, a woman!
—
Hi WP, a possible correction here. I think the speaker is “Irene Ang”, possibly the actress, Mrs Phua Chu Kang. She has been quite active in this whole Aware thing too.
My friend is at the EGM and her fb status provides more of her speech “Irene Ang: “I have no confidence and just for the record, I’m a Christian and I love God like you do”
ah kow on Sat, 2nd May 2009 4:40 pm
Good job to the reporters.
Goh Fan Ling on Sat, 2nd May 2009 4:55 pm
I agree with the observation “for the first time, I’m afraid of christians”…..but come to think of it, most of them behave in this manner anyway (at least those I know)…self righteous, imposing and “holy”….this is what makes me scared….
epl on Sat, 2nd May 2009 5:29 pm
no more updates since 445pm?? batteries flat?
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 5:36 pm
what is going on? why no more update?
HS on Sat, 2nd May 2009 5:51 pm
why are there no more updates
eda leong on Sat, 2nd May 2009 5:52 pm
former AWARE = YES AWARE (You, Everyone, Semua AWARE). New AWARE = NO AWARE (No Otak Aware) cause they wait for the DALANG before making any move!
impartial_observer on Sat, 2nd May 2009 5:57 pm
This Josie Lau really has no class. She may be the daughter of fishmongers from Ang Mo Kio Central, but she shouldn’t just tell people at a meeting to “shut up”. Very crass. She may be a rich doctor’s wife now but she still conducts herself like a hawker from a wet market.(The parents sell good fish though.)
DN on Sat, 2nd May 2009 7:04 pm
What happened to the updates guys? For those interested, there’s a bit more on the events unfolding at http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2009/5/2/live-aware-showdown-at-suntec
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 8:16 pm
Thank you for keeping us updated.
andylee on Sat, 2nd May 2009 8:39 pm
i wonder how Josie Lau manages money/budget at DBS if she can spend 90K on the EGM while the constitution states that the organisation can spend up to S$20,000 a month. hhmm…..
jammyjam on Sat, 2nd May 2009 8:43 pm
Thank you Wayang Party and your team of reporters who gave us a minute by minute account of the EGM. A job well done.
Congratulations to the Old Guard!! Justice has prevailed. Keep up the good work.
Andy on Sat, 2nd May 2009 8:47 pm
kudos to all the women & men who braved inconvenience and being shouted at by the new exco and almost manhandled by security, and well including those supporting the new exco out of genuine own beliefs though I do not agree with them….but not to those who came by busloads egged on, organized and paid by a church (if true) and supporting the new exco just because they are christians and from the same church…
this is a great day for Singapore and for women, as a Muslim attendee said “I have one regret being a father, I regret that my daughters are not here today to witness the spirit of the women at Aware today.”
Women, civil society & Singapore as a whole have already won and will gain from this event (truly we are aware)..even if the old guards were to lose the vote because of mindless support for newco from new members who are as clueless and care-less about the problems of women as the new exco who have zero records of contribution to women, in the eyes of Singapore they have still won..and the practical business of misappropriation of AWARE funds by new exco can be pursued in due course whether or not new exco won the vote…
& kudos for the reporting team…keep it up!
Ark on Sat, 2nd May 2009 9:01 pm
This will be a landmark incident, and show of solidarity for those who really make up the diversity here, despite the pitiful numbers who voted.
JT on Sat, 2nd May 2009 9:16 pm
To all the peeps putting in all the hard work down at Suntec: Well done guys and girls! Much thanks!
Solo Bear on Sat, 2nd May 2009 9:21 pm
If new EXCO does not resign and assembly vote for another exco, who then is the real EXCO?
Two EXCOs?
Like two Perak MBs?
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 9:28 pm
Kudos to the Field Report Team! Salute you for bringing us the up todate news on the AWARE EGM!
Andrew Chan on Sat, 2nd May 2009 9:33 pm
Excellent coverage, well done WP.
Can’t believe the bunch took off with their tails between their legs without the graciousness to resign in front of their peers.
No surprise I suppose, given what we’ve already seen of them so far, major character flaws. I wonder how they look at themselves in the mirror. Most certainly not leadership quality.
This is a good day, justice prevails!
streetsmart73 on Sat, 2nd May 2009 9:57 pm
hi there
1. there is light again in aware once again.
2. praise the sweet lord.
3. congratulations, ms constance, the old exco guards as well as the supporters.
4. honest, i am really puzzled how 90k could be used in just one month without reservation and consideration of the aware’s constitution.
5. this is a revelation of no some lousy leader or leadership especially in a ngo where funds do come easy.
6. aware is made up of so many professional women and men too, just open and seek for assistance. it is just pride and stubborness.
7. now, what is to happen to the self-proclaimed mentor? she ought to get a good kick up her ***, underestimating women’s power.
8. well done, ms constance, and please keep up the good work for women in singapore.
LongXiFuZi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:24 pm
This is the first public battle between Singaporeans who believe in a secular society and a group from a church which seeks to hijack a secular organisation. If they had succeeded this time, a precedence will be set. Nobody attempted to sneak into their church to promote an agenda. Iam glad the Thio crusaders have been booted out of AWARE. Now all seularists should unite and ensure that they don’t sneak into any other secular organisation.
Sam on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:34 pm
Excellent live update with time-sequenced. Professionally executed and a cut above your competitors like Onlinecitizen.
Keep up your good work, A*!
LongXiFuZi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:42 pm
Congratultions to Dana Lam and her newly elected team. (I don’t know any of them personally.)If there is a legal basis, please sue those people for the money that they had no authority to spend.对付小人,不可心慈手软.
soojenn on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:42 pm
Fantastic update… even much more live and detailed than the live update from ST.
Good work all of you out there… couldn’t have been a more enjoyable weekend..
Agape Xue on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:47 pm
Congradulations to the old guards and all members of Aware for having successfully passed a motion of no confidence against Jose Lau and her terracotta armies. Congradulation to all deserving women and all people who place secular and worldly interest over personal hidden agenda. Today, justice has prevailed, and Singapore has won over dark forces.
The next thing to do is to set up a members’ disciplinary subcommittee to look into suspending some members from membership if they have been found to have actions or conduct which had been detrimental to the interest of AWARE. But take legal action to recover damages from all of them first before removing them.
Agape
Alwin Loi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:53 pm
6.40pm: Dr Alan Chin: “I am from COOS and I am not ashamed to admit that. I would like to clarify that COOS did not ask its members to come here to promote Christianity. Please be rational, although $90,000 is spent, but we have recouped it by the new membership fees of $120,000.”
F***! he thinks the 120,000 revenue can cancel off the 90,000 expense ah? he must have failed his accounting courses! pay back the money!!!!
Alwin Loi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 10:55 pm
6.22pm: “The new exco has used such a large sum of money without approval from its members. Can we report it to the Commissioner of Charities?” [legal counsel refused to answer, claimed it is outside his purview]
gregory the smart ass lawyer act blur ah! of course lah, got so much money how can not act blur
Lan Cai He on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:05 pm
SOOC supporters coming in busloads just like tourists. For the first time in life, I am fearful of christian conspiracies. I do agree with the part that red shirts are all of a single race, a single religion and more less from the same place. But crowd should give Josie Lau more speech time. Too rowdy.
gambit on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:19 pm
woohoo today PMS-power reigned. don’t mess with women on a mission!
Justice! AWARE Christians exco voted OUT!!! « AlmostCompleteGuide2MyLife on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:20 pm
[...] Justice! AWARE Christians exco voted OUT!!! Posted on May 2, 2009 by helldiver Follow the whole EGM held at Suntec here. [...]
Annie Chan on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:24 pm
i’ve read the whole updating! well done!
one thing to note: these crowd are not even behaving themselves (with all the jeerings and booings) and they want to talk about them being treated like children? They ARE children, and behaving like one!
So, don’t complain when they are acting like one! SHAME on them.
Concerned Citizen. on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:27 pm
First thing first. Congratulations to the spirit of the true Aware members who
have brought justice to where justice is supposed to be.
Next, it is totally unbelievable that the Legal Counsel was paid $90,000 for just one day. This matter should not be allowed to pass without getting to the bottom of it. The new Aware Exco should try to bring justice to this issue also. Josie Lau and her team should be brought to court to answer this if possible. The Registrar of Society should be duly informed so that the newly re-elected Aware Exco need not have to shoulder the responsibility of this blatant violation of the Aware’s Constitution regarding the spending limit of $20,000 per month.
Concerned Citizen. on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:29 pm
Well done for Wayang Party and the team of field reporters.
You guys have done superbly well.
A million thanks for your effort to bring us the news life!
Anonymous on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:33 pm
Wayang Party, great job with the live blog! Josie – GOOD RIDDANCE!
WhatDidYouSay on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:43 pm
And thus, the true majority has spoken!
Robox on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:45 pm
Fantastic coverage, wayangparty! I’ve only now been successful at logging in because of the high traffic.
This has been nothing short of a truly dramatic episode, and one which Singapore has never witnessed.
This has been a victory for gays!
(I sincerely hope that the unnamed Save AWARE member who requested Alex Au to get gays to tone down on our online activism will come around to understanding what we knew from the word “go”. We were and have always been the true target; we will NOT back down!)
This has been a victory for feminism!
This has been a victory for secularism!
This has been a victory for democratic development in Singapore!
Gay Singaporeans can be justifiably proud of our striking accomplishments in the human rights desert that we live in; I share the opinion that we have the most high voltage gay activism in Asia.
We’ll show our brothers and sisters in all of Asia how bullies ought to be treated.
Go Dana!
religiousfanatics on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:45 pm
ISD and NCSS please investigate where those bus loads of red shirt supporters all robotically parroting `no comment’ and who paid for all the buses.
If there is evidence of a religious hand at work despite all the public statements about not condoning or no church involvement – then please act firmly swiftly.
Samie on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:46 pm
Dear impartial_observer, the one who told the members to “shut up and sit down” was Sally Ang. As it had been briefed beforehand hand that no unruly behaviour and no crude language is allowed, most members turned into a frenzy and called out for her to be removed by the security.
Josie Lau had to apologise on her behalf to keep her there.
Samie on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:53 pm
The Christians supporters came by chartered bus loads. It’s a huge question mark whether Pastor Derek Hong is sincere when he expressed ‘he regrets using the pulpit to mobilise support”
Luckily they were too late and most did not make it before the door close. Those who did make it were seated at the back near the door.
What a day - AWARE EGM on 2nd May « garry huang on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:54 pm
[...] What a day – AWARE EGM on 2nd May By garryhuang via wayangparty.com [...]
Alwin Loi on Sat, 2nd May 2009 11:54 pm
4.02pm: Thio Su Mien going to speak, crowd BOOED!!! “I believe I am a feminist mentor because…, please show some civility” (crowd kept interrupting). “Listen to me, I was….you have NO RESPECT FOR THE ELDERS” (BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) “I was the first female law dean..”…ORDER, ORDER, please listen!!
A-thio, NUS law school must have deeply regretted their decision to make you their dean decades ago. They never thought their ex-dean can one day act like a true blue hooligan in the unlikeliest place i.e. singapore
if you can self claim yourself as a feminist mentor, i can also self claim myself as masculinist mentor (MM) Loi. but who the hell will ever listen to MM Loi, A-thio?
By the way, don’t forget and act blur ah. you and your pussycats gangster must pay back that $70,000 overspending. otherwise, do not attempt to run away, stay in singapore, attend the court hearing and wait until the court order you and your pussycats gangsters to fork out the money! surely you don’t want to experience the later stage of your life with some nightmare that a top lawyer and ex law school dean can one day end up declared bankrupt by the court for refusal to pay! it will linger in your mouth just like a taste of bitter and rotten dessert after a nice main course
fairplay on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:17 am
Congratulations to Wayang Party for bringing us this very informative and entertaining reporting. Your performed much better than Media Corp. Keep up the great job!
Noel on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:19 am
Good job Wayang Party! My fav comment was “better than football match”.
stronghold on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:34 am
Thank you wayang party. You’re the best!
Pkchukiss - Reality Wine » Implications of AWARE’s Extra-Ordinary General meeting on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:43 am
[...] followed the live feed from Wayang Party and The Online Citizen on the Association of Women for Action and Research’s extra-ordinary [...]
ThinkingSoul on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:45 am
Although this episode has ended well, we Singaporeans who Unite in Diversity against Authocracy & Bigotry should not be complacent. There may be more Episodes or Chapters to come.
Let me recap.
Chapter 1
The first salvo was fired by Thio Li-Ann in Parliament last year with the attempt to fan-fire the Singapore Society based on the gay agenda.
Chapter 2
The takeover of AWARE engineered by the Mother of (not just Thio Li-Ann) Christians Rights Agenda using the gay issue again.
This is quite similar to the situation in US. In the 2004 US Election, Bush and his Neo-Conservative Republicans stirred up the issues of gay-Marriage and Abortion in the US, using his influence with the American Evangelist Movement.
Bush won the 2004 US Election, but the US Population is deeply divided and polarised into the Conservatives Camp and Liberals Camp.
We in Singapore have to guard ourselves to be AWARE and CAREFUL
not to fall to the prey of the Ultra-Conservative Christian Rights Agenda, who may have been influenced or have affiliation with the American Evangelist Movement.
Above all, we should strive to be Moderate, Balanced and Free of Prejudices, regardless of whichever religion we have.
May God Bless Us All, regardless of Race, Religion, Sex, Sexual Preferences or any other superficial differences. Beneath our skin, we are all human.
Alwin Loi on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:47 am
Annie Chan: just sit down and shut up. they became acting like children after being treated like one.
my view on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:51 am
Thanks for the coverage.
Congratulation to the old guards.
AWARE EGM 02 May 09 « Motion Pictures on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:52 am
[...] the transcript of the full event, you can visit: Wayang Party Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Help Save AWARE.Aware: Old guard members counter [...]
AWARE OEGM Results « @Haha’s Weblog on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:56 am
[...] AWARE OEGM Results May 3, 2009 at 12:20 am | In Interesting | No Comments Tags: #awaresg, AWARE, AWARE EOGM Read about the commentary for the meeting from The Kent Ridge Common or The Wayang Party(Recommended) [...]
Audio recording: Josie Lau BOOED from the beginning; security personnel called in to remove ‘unruly’ persons : The Wayang Party (大戏党) on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:57 am
[...] Read the full coverage of the EGM here [...]
Raquel on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:16 am
Video which shows the ex-AWARE president giving a speech on her team’s resignation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq8jPfZTAdw
Gab on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:21 am
This totally, totally made my day.
I am aware on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:37 am
congratulations to Dana Lam and her team..i clarify i am not a member of AWARE and i dont know them personally. As I am out of town, i cant be personally there. but i am glad that the old guard returns.
as in any non-profit organisation, every cents counts. i am sure so much effort had been spent to raise this amount. now what happen! i am now concern over the ridiculous expenses $90K (- sure this is all?) that josie n team had spent. this is outside constitution . this amount should be recovered.
that josie and her team are not authorised to spend it.
norfolk on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:37 am
“Good will always triumph over evil.” Now we have the answer.
non-Christian on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:38 am
Josie and her co. should pay for the $90K (or rather the exceeded $70k) for making this whole mass of trouble… how can Alan Chin says “although $90,000 is spent, but we have recouped it by the new membership fees of $120,000.”
the new membership fees should be used for helping out the women, not spend to secure their position in the organization…
Post AWARE Saga | :: Woohoo :: on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:40 am
[...] More on The Online Citizen and Wayang Party [...]
i am aware on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:42 am
i hv to be out of town, am i glad i am not missing your coverage. i am a supporter of the old guard..
thanks to the reporters, freelancers, all those who helped contribute to this coverage.
sopissedoff on Sun, 3rd May 2009 2:21 am
Josie and gang can now set up their own organisation. Since they liked the name ‘Aware’ so much to ovetake it, they can name their new organisation ‘Beware’. Guess this name will fit well with the kinda tactics they employed too.
Before that, the various parties (including MOE) should take legal actions against the slanderings made by the gang and AWARE must get the hard-earned money of its member and the public back from the gang (who splurged so much in such a short span of time). The government should also look into the public disturbance, mistrust and fear created amongst the various groups by the gang.
They must be held responsible for their actions and punish accordingly!
I am very glad that Aware is back to the good hands of a group of commited, kind, caring and intelligent women.
LongXiFuZi on Sun, 3rd May 2009 2:23 am
Still on the follow up which Ms. Dana Lam and her team should not misguidedly forgo – sue them for the unauthorised spending. The money belongs to AWARE – a public organisation. Alan Chin – it does not matter how much new memberships have contributed to the coffers due to your chicanery. The money is simply not yours to spend as you like.
read a few times on Sun, 3rd May 2009 3:05 am
“…I have seen so much fear *of women that they are not worthy of men…”
should be
“…I have seen so much fear *in/by women that they are not worthy of men…”
am I right? I read this sentence for so many times trying to understand but couldn’t. Until I realised that it might be “in/by” and not “of”. I’m not trying to be pedantic or a grammar police, just confused. What’s the actual meaning? Can anyone help?
lp on Sun, 3rd May 2009 3:10 am
WP – congratulations on your reporting – this was really great for those of us who couldn’t be there!!
reader on Sun, 3rd May 2009 4:24 am
To those chastizing Alan Chin for thinking that a $120,000 revenue from new memberships mitigates a $90,000++ expenditure:
TT Durai brought in millions and millions of dollars for NKF under his leadership. Thus he got himself a golden tap!
Our govt brings in billions and billions of dollars for our economy every year. So it is alright for them to lose billions in failed investments.
Smart people do think alike! We should not question their logic.
Ida on Sun, 3rd May 2009 5:10 am
hello,
i was seated near the “stage” area and could hear distinctly what one young lady said, which was loosely transcribed above (see below). The lady said that she had sex ed in school. She meant she had sex education.
6.32pm: “I am a Christian and I have sex in secondary school. I am for a system which enabled people to make informed choices and not to make judgement on others. We need to give that choice.”
Men InBack on Sun, 3rd May 2009 9:26 am
What did Josie’s AWARE stand for. Here goes…. Aggressive Women All Resigned Evetually
Men In Back on Sun, 3rd May 2009 9:36 am
” Life can be so randomly beautiful, as long as you’re open to it.”
Men In Back on Sun, 3rd May 2009 9:38 am
If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain.
If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees.
If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.
louhan Guog on Sun, 3rd May 2009 9:40 am
Great job wayang. At the rate that you chaps are going. Sooner or later it would be impossible to talk about social political blogs without mentioning WP. You people are really hammering TOC with this good lively and pin point accurate reporting and with the diversity on offer such as J. Gomez, fellowship, links to other bloggers, traveloguers, BP, jokes and creative use of media, it all creates a very interesting package.
Best of all thanks for helping aware, when we really needed help
Saint Splattergut on Sun, 3rd May 2009 9:52 am
Gab:
same here. I read it around the same time you did but only came to comment on it now… this was inspiring and hilarious.
fly on Sun, 3rd May 2009 10:21 am
A big Thank U to WP for the coverage, really appreciate it!!
talkmore on Sun, 3rd May 2009 10:25 am
Yes, good job Wayang Party for the coverage. I logged in @ about 12pm but nothing much was happening yet. If I had know there would be so much drama mama, I would have checked in regularly.
I think there is better technology out there where you do not need to refresh the page to see updates, BBC News uses live updates which does not need the reader to refresh the page, its a really cool technology that Wayang Party should explore if you have the budget.
I am heartened that diversity & multiculturalism has triumphed after about 5 weeks of fundamentalist COOS agenda. Who says that Spore cannot achieve it? YES, WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!
Anj on Sun, 3rd May 2009 10:48 am
It’s an amazing event. I would say it’s the most exciting thing in years! Imagine women of Singapore being passionate about a cause! I thought most of them are apathetic. But i was mistaken. The life and spirit… the energy… is so amazing!
Definitely a major landmark, not just for AWARE and civil societies… but for Singapore.
yuyi on Sun, 3rd May 2009 11:13 am
Amazing event. Amazing coverage. Keep up the good work wp, without this site doing what it has been doing for weeks day after day, yesterday would never have happened. Instead many would have just curled up and suffered in silence. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. Thank you to the brotherhood for teaching us no streetwise ladies how to be so snakey, sly and manipulative, it has used to brilliant effect, when we were adviced to spread the rumor a few days bfr the event we were not going to move for a vote of no confidence in the EGM. That gave the other side the impression, it was not necessary to rally more supporters. Then on the last minute wham bang! Amazing!
unaware on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:01 pm
the biggest winner in this fiasco…………..SUNTEC CITY……….HURRAY!!!!
Men In Back on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:41 pm
Misappropriation of AWARE’s fund to the tune of $90,000 in a month. Josie has broken all of Singapore’s vice records. In the NKF saga,and Ren Ci saga, it all occurred over a period of many years. Josie and her pussycats are indeed very efficient. All for the wrong reasons. Maybe it’s appropriate as she is after all a VICE president in DBS.
Men In Back on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:55 pm
SOCIETIES ACT
(CHAPTER 311)
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.
(2) A complaint made under subsection (1) other than a complaint made by Registrar shall not be entertained unless the Court is satisfied that the complainant is, on the date of the complaint, a member of the registered society in respect of whose property the complaint is so made.
(3) Any person bound by an order made under subsection (1) who fails to comply with the terms thereof and the directions given therein within a time to be specified in the order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(4) An order made under subsection (1) shall not affect or prevent a prosecution of, or civil proceedings against, any such officer or member.
Punishment of fraud, false declaration and misappropriation.
20. Any person who with intent to mislead or defraud any other person gives to the other person a copy of any rules, regulations or other documents, other than the rules of a registered society, on the pretence that they are the existing rules of the society or that there are no other rules of the society or gives to the other person a copy of any rules on the pretence that those rules are the rules of a registered society when the society is not registered, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
source: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/
pleinelune on Sun, 3rd May 2009 1:20 pm
I am the person who asked the question at 8.02 pm. I am afraid you misreported my question – the exact question I asked was.
“lets just forget about everything that happened here for a second, all the allegations and what-not. Just answer one question: if i suddenly felt that FOTF was losing its pro-family focus and becoming an organisation concerned with promoting homophobia, do I have the right to appoint myself a Family Values mentor, rally my friends and family to go take over FOTF? Would you, josie lau, accept my authority in such a situation?”
eda leong on Sun, 3rd May 2009 5:09 pm
Hooray!!!! to One United People Regardless of Race, Language or Religion. Congratulations to old guards, Dana Lam and her newly elected team! Also the people who burned their saturday…Genuine AWARE WON!!!!
Citizen on Sun, 3rd May 2009 6:10 pm
Well done WP for the coverage. I think WP played a very crucial role in creating awareness (No pun intended)of the EGM, resulting in the big turnout. Anyone with access to the internet and have real interest in local issues will no doubt be accessing WP for developments.
To admin on Sun, 3rd May 2009 9:23 pm
WP, can you all find out more about the buses that ferried the red shirts as reported here
“1.30pm: somebody get hold of the bus-driver and company, documentary proof who pay for the buses, $50 for the invoice.
1.25pm: tape conversation to prove red shirts from COOS, $25 per mp3 clip.
1.20pm: anybody out there take a photo of the red shirts bus number, will pay $10 per photo.
1.1opm: the red shirts are arriving by busloads, was going to take a pic when stopped, wtf.Q!”
robert on Sun, 3rd May 2009 10:33 pm
so much hoo-ha over an lgbt organisation.
damn lesbians…
luminoir on Mon, 4th May 2009 4:12 am
Let me get this straight.
If legal counsel read the constitution and was aware that his fees would obvious bust the maximum amount his client is allowed to spend, how can he continue with the case knowing that his existence as their counsel contributes to their contravention of the constitution, effectively making them ultravirus?
What does the Law Society make of that?
A Series of Events at More Than Pixels on Mon, 4th May 2009 11:08 am
[...] EGM and my twitter page bursting with #awaresg updates. AWARE exco resigned and new exco elected. Transcript here anyway. Spending $90,000 in a month of administration is insane! That’s enough reason to [...]
Now aware on Mon, 4th May 2009 1:49 pm
noticed some of the ppl were incorrectly indentified.. eg. 3.01pm – it was Margaret Thomas (not Constance) who told Josie her 3 mins is over. 8.20pm & 9.16pm – It was Breama Mathi (not Constance) who gave the new exco 5 mins to resign & told the crowd to applaud the new exco…
JUSTICE PREVAILS! on Mon, 4th May 2009 5:34 pm
If there’s AWARE members reading this, please lodge a complaint with the Registrar to set the investigation of Overspending in motion. Based on what “Men In Back” wrote on Sun, 3rd May 2009 12:55 pm, any member can do so.
The scheming Pussycats must be dealt with by the law if they indeed crossed the line of spending more than they were allowed to. As I read, it was supposed to be less than $20K a month, but they have already spent $110k within a month – $20k plus $90k for the Suntec venue and the legal advice. One of Pussycats supporters actually asked people to be reasonable, that they collected $120K from membership fees. What rubbish argument! if it is allowed to stand, does it mean that as long as the spending is less than the membership fees collected, it is ok ?
Vince on Mon, 4th May 2009 6:19 pm
Congratulations to Dana Lam and her elected new team!
.
THE ST today actually reported that the old guards went to the EGM prepared to be defeated!! What a turn around!!
Thank you everyone for expressing your thoughts here, I truly believe every little effort helps in determining the final result!
Men In Back on Mon, 4th May 2009 9:00 pm
adding on to JUSTICE PREVAILS’ comments
Compared to what the likes of Josie and her pussycats spent for each time for their religious gatherings, what with posh venues like Exco Pavilion hall being booked every Sunday, the Rock at Suntec, blowing $90k in 5 weeks is peanuts to her.
Men In Back on Mon, 4th May 2009 10:14 pm
Josielocks and the Three Bears
Once upon a time, there was a not so little girl named Josielocks. She went for a walk in the forest. Not by her self though. She brought along her entire Church group. Pretty soon, she came upon a house in Dover Cresent. She knocked and, when no one answered, they walked right in.
At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Josielocks was hungry for power. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl.
“This porridge is too hot! Only a gay would eat that” she exclaimed.
So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.
“This porridge is too cold, only a gay would eat that too” she said
So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.
“Ahhh, this porridge is just right, very family focus” she said happily and she ate it all up.
After she’d eaten the three bears’ breakfasts she decided she was feeling a little tired. So, she walked into the living room where she saw three chairs. Josielocks sat in the first chair to rest her feet.
“This chair is too big for me! It must the Chairman’s seat” she exclaimed.
So she sat in the second chair.
“This chair is too big for me, too! It must be the VP’s seat” she whined.
So she tried the last and smallest chair.
“Ahhh, this chair is just right, for a person like myself, small in everyway” she sighed. But just as she settled down into the chair to rest, it broke into pieces!
Josielocks was very tired by this time, so she went upstairs to the bedroom. She lay down in the first bed, but it was too hard. Then she lay in the second bed, but it was too soft. Then she lay down in the third bed and it was just right. Josielocks fell asleep.
As she was sleeping, the three bears came home.
“Someone’s been eating my porridge,” growled the Papa bear.
“Someone’s been eating my porridge,” said the Mama bear.
“Someone’s been eating my porridge and they ate it all up!” cried the Baby bear.
“Someone’s been sitting in my chair,” growled the Papa bear.
“Someone’s been sitting in my chair,” said the Mama bear.
“Someone’s been sitting in my chair and they’ve broken it all to pieces,” cried the Baby bear.
They decided to look around some more and when they got upstairs to the bedroom, Papa bear growled, “Someone’s been sleeping in my bed,”
“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed, too” said the Mama bear
“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed and she’s still there!” exclaimed Baby bear.
Just then, Josielocks woke up and saw the three bears. She screamed, “Help!” And she jumped up and ran out of the room. Josielocks ran down the stairs, opened the door, and ran away into the forest. And she never returned to the home of the three bears.
Ten minutes later …
“Someone’s have misappropriated our funds,” growled the Papa bear.
THE END
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 3 May 2009 AWARE Weekend Special on Wed, 6th May 2009 12:10 pm
[...] crowd to show her some respect during Aware EGM – ADRENALYNNE: Aware egm starts – The Wayang Party: LIVE from Suntec: AWARE EGM, 2 May 2009 – TOC: More than a thousand turn up for Aware EOGM – The Wayang Party: Photo Gallery: AWARE EGM, 2 [...]
Anonymous on Wed, 6th May 2009 3:46 pm
Once upon the time, there seen 2 school girls were pulling and pushing outside school neighborhood.
Girl A: While sobbing, she pleaded “Why did you do that to me? Please don’t leave me, you know how much you meant to me?”
Girl B: “Ooh SHUT UP and SIT DOWN… Mien, listen to me, we are over. We are no longer enjoying as much fun as we were. So just get over it, OK?”
Girl A: “You want to have fun, we can have fun together. Please don’t leave me…” she held another girl’s arm
Girl B: “Alright, you don’t get it. If you don’t get the hint, let me tell you straight to your face. I have found someone who is more fun as compared to you, she is hot and you are not” she pulled the other girl’s hands off and turning away.
Girl A is sobbing, her tears were rolling unstoppable. She crunched her both hands, eyes were full of anger… And she shouted back “You will regret this, you will regret the day you turn your back away from me!!!”
Time to time, the girl had been troubled by the sad memory. One day, she was standing in front of a Church. She went in and saw a Pastor. Saw the girl looking sad, the Pastor gave her sweets and asked her to share her story. Being consulted, the girl had actively involved in the Church activities. Eventually, she studied law and earns lots of lots of money… and became the most influential person in the Church. She proclaims herself as the “F…….. ….or”
Sayoni Speak » AWARE EOGM: An Account and Commentary on Wed, 6th May 2009 9:05 pm
[...] drama continued for the next 7 hours – for a full transcript of proceedings, see here. The highlight of the proceedings were threefold: when the new exco admitted that they had spent [...]
Amy on Thu, 7th May 2009 7:38 pm
Once upon a time, a nice woman invited a friend to her house and introduced her friend to her husband.
The friend subsequently claimed to be the master of her house and chased that woman out of her very own house.
The friend changed the lock of that woman’s house, spoke to people that the woman was chased out coz of this and that that made that woman unfit to be a wife and mother, fired all the woman’s servants, took over that woman’s household finance and spent willfully, etc.
That woman sought justice in front of a crowd.
It is ridiculous for the people to expect that woman to still maintain her cool head and to still try to reason and talk senses with her friend under that type of circumstances.
That woman afterall, is not God!
AWARE:; questions been raised on EGM « that bottle called on Sun, 10th May 2009 3:01 am
[...] at Suntec. As we review their accounts with the reports from twitter by articulate bloggers, the Wayang Party and The Online Citizen, it appears the battleground was stacked against their [...]
hAha on Sun, 10th May 2009 3:56 am
Women have their rights already!! Its time to fight for the rights of homosexuals!!! Hooray!!