Josie Lau’s first official statement as AWARE President rings hollow to a unsympathetic audience

By Fang Zhi Yuan

In her first official statement as AWARE President which was posted on its website (Source: AWARE), Ms Josie Lau made an impassioned plead to all Singaporeans to give her team an opportunity to serve the community.

Her conciliatory tone was in stark contrast to her demeanour during the press conference called by the new exco last week where she was in a combative mood.

Did Josie Lau LIE? Contradictions in earlier DBS statement and her revelation on CNA ‘Talking Point’ that she has no plans to run for AWARE President

From Wayang Party:

Is this a freudian slip or an outright lie?

In a press statement released on 17 April 2009, DBS revealed that Josie Lau had informed them of her decision to run for AWARE’s President:

“Josie informed the bank of her appointment as Aware Exco member on April 13, over two weeks after she was appointed on March 28. She had not sought prior approval for this appointment and thereby breached the staff code of conduct. Nevertheless, DBS made a concession and agreed to support her involvement as Exco member.

Early this week, Josie broached the subject of her intent to run for president of Aware. We reviewed her request and subsequently informed her that while the bank continues to support her involvement in Aware, we could not support her intent to run for president, given the demands associated with the top post of a leading advocacy group in Singapore.”

(Source: Straits Times)

However, in an interview with CNA “Talking point” 2 days later on 19 April 2009, Josie Lau painted a different picture:

“There were 5 of us, we went around the table and none wanted to take up the position (of President). I was the last woman standing. And I felt that I had to pick up the baton, to run and to continue to lead this organisation that has been marred in controversies in the last one, two weeks.”

(Watch the interview on Singapore Enquirer)

This gave one the impression that she had no intention to run for AWARE’s President in the first place and was “forced” to accept the position because nobody in the new exco wanted it which is in direct contradiction to DBS’s earlier statement.

The issue was brought up by a journalist during the new exco’s press conference at Raffles Town Club on 23 April 2009.

Surprisingly, Josie chose to evade the question and threw a smokescreen to obsfuscate the truth on the grounds that she is duty-bound to DBS not to reveal details as to what exactly happened.

Read an excerpt of the interview below:

Journalist:

Ok, can I ask 2 questions please. Fong Meng, from Today. Question No. 1, at the point when people were asking, was there an agenda, had the new exco come out even before the AGM or even immediately after the AGM to clarify matters, the integrity of the new exco would not be called into question now.  So do you think you could have done something to at least to allay these concerns? The other question, Josie, is about DBS becos DBS has said that the afternoon of the mtg before you were elected as president, you had indicated you planned to stand for election as president. But later on at the Talking Pt programme, you said that you were the “last woman standing”. Can you clarify this?

Josie Lau:

Ya, I’ll clarify that second part first. Okay. I’m bound by my employment contract not to say anything between me and DBS, so I hope you’ll respect that.

Now, the Constitution is such that when the president resigns, you can only elect from one of the six ordinary Exco members and I’m one of them. And there is always a possibility that I could be, I don’t know.

 Okay. And that night, the truth of the matter was as we went round the table, we asked everybody: If somebody before me said that she would take it, I would have gladly given it to her because I did not come into Aware to be president, I was just joining Aware to help out with fund-raising and marketing.

 So when I spoke to my bosses about me being an Exco member because there were already press articles on the 10th of April, which was a Good Friday, and I had to tell my boss that “Oh, I’m an Exco member” and that was it. And then subsequently when it became apparent that it could be one of the six, any of the six and I said I might as well put it in in an application form.

But anyway, this is part of my employment, I don’t want to talk about it and please, it’s off the record. So that night when we had the meeting, even before the meeting started, there were already press outside waiting.

Can you imagine if we had walked out and no president elected, the press will say, “Look, this new Exco has no leadership, no one is willing to take over the baton and everything.” And that night I had to bite the bullet and go. We went round the meeting, I was the sixth person to be asked. From the No. 1 to the 5th, nobody wanted.

Journalist:

No, you said that there were six names and you felt that there was a possibility and you informed the facts. So did you tell DBS that you are running for President? This is a matter of clarification because there’s one rumour that’s going round that you had lied. Josie, could you clarify that on record, please?

Josie Lau:

I hope you understand I’m in a very difficult position. I’m not allowed to say anything that happened that night.

Journalist:

Can I just clarify what we have here? So Josie, you did tell the bank that there’s a possibility that by evening you would become president but on Talking Point when you said that there was no plan, you were the last woman standing and you gave in.

That was because you were bound by the conditions set by your bank, you can’t talk about it? I mean they’re trying to understand, it’s because they’re writing the story and this could go several places, they just need to get the points clarified. Thanks.

Josie Lau:

Okay, this will be the last question because I’ve just received the latest update. This thing has grown out of proportion.

Okay, the police are there right now at Aware Centre and Shultz Lee, our centre manager is raving and is shouting and just refusing to let the vendor replace the security locks. And the Old Guards, many of the Old Guards are on their way there.

I believe there’s going to be a fight. So I think, I’m so sorry, I think we have to call, make an end to the press conference.

[The press conference ended without Josie Lau giving us a clear, direct and concise answer if she had informed DBS of her intention to run for president]

Source: Help Save AWARE

Transcript of new AWARE exco’s press conference last night at Raffles Town Club led by Josie Lau with Thio Su Mien expressing outrage at the turn of events

Ripped from Help Save Aware, editing by Wayang Party

Chairperson:

Good evening, members of the media. We apologise for this late notice in calling this briefing but I appreciate everybody’s attendance. And we call this meeting in haste because we feel that we shud not delay any more in disclosing something very serious to the public about Aware.

In tonight’s briefing we will talk about exco experience with Old Guard, what is Aware today, what does this exco aim to do and interactions with the media. Before we move forward, I’d like to introduce the members at this table: Josie Lau, our president. She does not need further introduction. To her right is Maureen Ong, who’s the honorary treasurer. To my right is Jenica Chua. She’s the honorary secretary. And at the right of the table is Dr Thio Su Mien. Dr Thio is a supporter of families. So I’d like to start right now by our President addressing exco’s experience with the Old Guard for the last 3 and a half weeks.

Josie Lau:

Friends of the media, thank you for coming at such late last minute notice. I had said in my first & last interview after being appointed as President of Aware that I did not get involved in Aware to be engaged in controversies. And so far I’ve kept a very stoic and dignified silence. But with the recent happenings of events, I’ve no choice, it left me no choice to break this silence and come out publicly to say what’s been happening.

This is actually something that could have been resolved internally btwn the Old Guard & the New Guard in a very polite and civil way. But that has not happened. I’ll tell you so far I’ve only been appointed President for about a week & I’ve only been an exco member for about 3 weeks. But to date I’ve only been met with hostility, intimidation.

I felt so bullied I tell you. I will tell you what’s happening. My family received death threats and it’s now a police case. Each day I fear for the physical safety of my children, my family. There’s even a blog site detailing my children’s names and which school they go to. I don’t understand what has sparked this irrational fear of us, the new exco members, and what hatred. If you’re a parent you will understand how I feel.

I feel so indignant. All I wanted to do is to serve the community & be a member of this Aware, to push for the cause of women. Do I deserve this? Death threat? What has Singapore become? Is this what we want in Spore? And I’ll tell you as President I have an official president@aware.org.sg email. Guess what? The secretariat has locked me out. I have confronted the secretariat. The secretariat has been fired, okay.

I’ll tell you I’ve my fellow committee members here who’ll share with you their own experience, how they’ve been subjected to hostility & uncooperative staff members in the last 3 weeks, and all we wanted is to push & start work & get going with our work. But will they allow us? No. They’ve just been pushing & pushing us, badgering us all the time.

Chairperson: Jenica, do you want to share your experience?

Jenica Chua:

I want to put it forth that I came to join Aware because I felt that when I reach a certain age it’s impt to contribute to society, to Singapore to help other women. And we’re in a difficult economic situation. So I went to Aware. I’ve been Aware member for over 2 yrs now. I went for the executive committee position. And to my utter horror, after I was elected there were a lot of allegations about my link to 377A.

I don’t know why it came out in the press. But because of, I’ve written many things to the press. I’ve written about technology index & other areas, but the only thing that came out on the 10th affer the exco was elected was the fact I wrote to 377A and there was a homosexual slant to it. The next day I recd a death threat. They threatened to harm my loved ones. The person said that he has now joined a jihadist. He’s anti-Christian & he will find ways to harm my family, my loved ones. And all I did was to join a women’s association. It’s a women’s association to help women.

I felt very intimidated. Why did this happen? I’m a normal Sporean like any other of you. Why shud this happen to me? And it never stopped. Three days ago my company’s corporate communications person called me. Somebody wrote an e-mail to my company to say that because of my involvement in Aware it’s bad for the company’s reputation & urged the company to take action against me. So now it’s evolved to a threat. And because of that I couldn’t sleep for many nights. I felt very harassed. And all I did, the only thing I did was to join Aware. I don’t understand this. I thought I joined a women’s association to help women.

Throughout this difficult period we had a lot of wrestles becos the previous president kept changing the timing for the exco to meet. It went to & fro, to & fro, and I was like stuck in btwn as the secretary. I don’t understand.

Josie Lau: I think Loi  you may have some experience too.

Lois Ng: Members of the press, suddenly I feel that it’s a crime to be a Christian & to hold an exco position. I’m a Christian. I’ve made no bones about it. It’s been reported in the paper & it’s also reported in my website. But I’m now on the hit list of this operation level. I’ve been termed a leper. And this blogger has gone online to garner support to boycott my business. 

I run a business for people with disabilities. They include the autistic, ppl with below average IQ, ppl with physical disability. And we make a living by producing creative & quality gifts for the corporate & tourist mkt. This person has gone online & extracted info from the ST and listed my working address, which is at High Point in Geylang and also my customers, their tel nos & their addresses & he’s asked ppl to boycott my biz & to even make verbal & written complaints to my clients to stop buying from me. And he says this is to teach me a lesson for joining Aware because I’m a Christian.

I’m shocked. Spore is a multiracial society. We embrace diversity in religion. My religion is a pte matter. It’s got nothing to do with my work in Aware. And I joined Aware becos I’ve been asked to help Aware start up a social enterprise, to create employment for women, esp women with, singles with children, unmarried women & women who are lowly educated. And I come in to create employment for them. I did not expect to be on their hit list and my life and my staff’s lives are also in danger. What is happening to our society right now? What is happening? Can someone explain this irrational & dangerous move by some small group of people?

Josie Lau: Maureen has something to add too.

Maureen Ong: Mine is not as bad as theirs. But really we’ve been trying very hard to get on with the work and we hv been hampered from doing so. We’ve recd numerous complaints from people who are trying to register as members. Either they cannot get into the website or they get replies from the website saying that…women are registered as students.

In the first place there’s no category called student membership. You’re either an ordinary member who can vote, or you’re an associate member who cannot vote. So we really don’t know what’s happening. And when we asked the website host company for further info, we’re told that we cannot ask them for info becos they only will communicate with either Constance Singam or Tanli(??) who is no longer with Aware, or Joanna Wong which is the PR asst. So there’s no recognition of us, either the President, the VP, or any of the new exco members.

There’s also an issue of the bandwidth. When we checked further why there was difficulty in accessing the website, we were told that the bandwidth was only 5 gigabytes. And that’s quite ridiculous for an association like Aware. And becos of that, the website was down from 18 Apr to 19 Apr. And then the website, the bandwidth was increased. So these are some of the instances when we try very hard to do our work & yet we’re hampered from doing so. Thank you.

Chairperson: Members of the press, we’ve given you brief statements of experiences working with Aware for the last 3 and a half weeks. And the next point, what we want to do is that Josie will address to tell you more about what is Aware today.

Josie Lau:

Now what’s with Aware today? What does it stand for? Frankly not many people know. Because it’s been kept to such a small group of people. As of end of last Dec it was only about some 260 plus people. Now you’re wondering why Dr Thio Su Mien is here today. I think I will leave it to her to tell you her perspective of what’s going on with Aware.

Thio Su Mien:

Good evening. I’m here as feminist mentor to women in the workplace. In the last 10 yrs I’ve been encouraging(??) women so that they become, released into society, to contribute to society. And it’s not an easy task to get women because of the work balance to contribute. Having found this group of women, quite disparate group, becos I teach all over Singapore & I counsel all over Spore & training people.

 I’m absolutely outraged that very group of women take time off to contribute to society they get this kind of ferocious attack. I don’t understand. I don’t understand what has come of our ppl.

Aware was formed 26 years ago by my friends, my contemporaries. And it’s done great work in so many areas. And in 1998(??), membership was about 700 odd, which was very well. Suddenly in 2006 it sort of declined; 2007, it declined to 200 odd ppl. And in 2008 there was an AGM where they sought to introduce to give men the vote in a women’s orgn where the objective is to represent all the women of Spore & not a small proportion of women.

You know that women form about 50% of our population. So we must focus our attention on promotion of the rights of women. To my horror I found that they want to introduce men into a women’s society. And the very strange thing was that at that meeting there were only 25(??) members who turned up at that meeting – AGM 2008. So I started looking into the affairs of Aware to see what’s happening to this organization which my friends have set up. And not only have they set it up and my name is here, one of the women we honoured, becos I was a pioneer feminist.

I was first law dean. Subsequent years, probably a female, a woman who runs one of the largest law firms in Spore. But I sit on the boards of many public listed companies. I was also at one time a member of the Asian Deveolpment Board tribunal. And I was also judge of the World Bank. I served it for 8 yrs and retired as senior VP of the World Bank administrative tribunal…with some standing to speak about this because in Cedaw this is this thing about promoting women into positions of leadership. And under…there is this 30 to 35% rule which I thought, wow, we have a legal document whereby we can promote the cause of women, bring all the young women into leadership positions. But with the economic crisis there’s also this desire to help those who are disadvantaged.

When women & men are retrenched, we want to make sure that not women are retrenched. There needs to be an even hand in this. So there are many many issues that we need to look to. And I find to my dismay that Aware seems to be only very interested on…and the advancement of homosexuality, which is a man’s issue and how it came under Aware is quite covert. …when Aware sponsored the film Spider Lilies. Spider Lilies is a film by 2 lesbians who fell in love. One is a tattooist and the only one is a virtual sex worker.

When a parent saw this film… He wrote to Today and he asked why is Aware showing this film becos he’s got a teenage daughter. I think it really troubled him. And lo and behold…is that this is part of a comprehensive sexual education. So then it became kind of impt that they shud know what is in this prog. And this prog is already in schools, 30 schools whereby they are using this prog. But from what she said, the suggestion is that in this programme, young girls from 12 to 18 are taught that it’s ok to experiment with each other. And this is something which…parents in Spore. Are we going to have an entire…of lesbians? I have nothing against lesbians or homosexuals personally. On a personal front, I’ve given ministered, I’ve counselled them. So you need to understand I’m not talking about… They are in pain. And very often…where you have abusive fathers, they do things with their daughters and the daughters revolt, rebel against society. We understand this is what it’s all about. It’s the people, the pain of people…

It’s the people, the pain of people, the woundedness(??) of people and all this is not, you know, it brings out a reach(??). So if you need proof that Aware has actually moved to…you have this male sexual programmes and workshops which was inducted under the auspices of Aware in 2008 by a Finnish activist and he was talking about the sensitivity, how…about sensitivity, sexual…and so on. Now, Finland has a law. I think you need to know this…law is now…should we have state-funded artificial insemination for women… So this is under discussion, I do not know whether they passed this into law. So these are issues, are you for or not, for homosexualism and… The only question is what are we talking about? Are we talking about same-sex marriage?

Are we talking about…taxpayers’ monies abused…you could say a man and woman, they can go for…for whatever you call it, so what about us? So I think this whole thing we need to discuss it, bring it up openly and discuss in a different time. So I believe that…focus which is like…set up by my friends that they will go back to look after the majority, all women, all women of Singapore…all the women. So my…is that can we refocus on the excellent objectives of Aware? Go back to its original purpose for it…for it being an NGO? So I leave that because I think I’ve just raised a comment.

Chairperson: Okay. Thank you, Su Mien. We move to the third point: What this Aware Exco aim to do?

Josie Lau:

Again, in my last interview, I said Aware has lost its focus but I think I was being very polite when I said that. It has really not lost its focus but I think it has gone further than that, much, much further than that. It has now become a single-objective organisation. So that’s what the new team is here to do: we want to bring Aware back to its original very noble objective which is to represent all women, to advance their cause, all women whatever religion and race in areas such as professional development, their private life, their health and Singapore does have an Asian population. We need to look at the ageism, all the problems.

Look at women who have some slight diabetes the minute they hit certain age, their insurance premium no longer make any sense for them. So we should be pushing those cause and I think with almost 50 per cent of our population in Singapore being women we really have to refocus back on our bread and butter issue where everyday women on the street cares about. So, I think we want, we are really serious about getting started on our work but we haven’t been able to do so for the last three weeks and I hope from this press conference the new team can start to work seriously on how we could bring this association to a higher level of recognition amongst the Singaporean woman.

Chairperson:

Thank you, Josie. Right now, we’ll give 30 minutes to the media to ask more questions. You have answered some and then when you’re going to ask a question, please go to the mike and introduce yourself, your name and the paper or the media that you’re representing.

Source: Help Save AWARE

BREAKING: Leaked emails from COOS members showed that AWARE take-over was pre-planned in advance!!

From Wayang Party:

We just received a tip-off that the AWARE takeover was pre-planned months in advance.

The following emails exchange between COOS members documented clearly that the plan was hatched to prevent the “pro-gay” group from taking over AWARE.

The application form of AWARE was also attached and sent out to the members.

These emails can also be found on STOMP and Trevvy forums.

In a separate development, Thio Su Mein, the mother of NMP Thio Li Ann admitted in a press conference at Raffles Town Club last night that she had “emailed people she knew to point them to “what was happening” at Aware.” (read report here)

Read her email below and judge for yourself whether she is simply “pointing” out the happenings of AWARE or instigating them to take over the organization.

 

From: smthio@xxxxxxx.sg
To: stjh21@xxxxxx.sg, Undisclosed-Recipient:
Subject: Re Aware
Attachments AWARE_membership_mail-in_application_form.pdf concerned parents.1.do

Dear All

Please see Attachments on some recent developments in Aware. Aware is a woman’s organization which conducts comprehensive sexual programmes for girls and it runs this programme in some of the schools. They encourage girls to express their full sexuality and this includes experimenting with other girls. It would be a good idea to join it and change its focus to other problems of women and families.

..Please ask your like-minded friends to join Aware so that you can give the vote to those who wish to be an agent of change for the Lord. They could also contribute to the activities of the oprganization as there is much to be done for women and families in this dowturn of the economy. Unfortunately, I cannot surface but shall be assisting in the background . I attach the Aware membership application form for your use. The Aware application form has a section as to who ( if any) told you about Aware. You can just leave it blank . Please let me know whether you can join and attend the AGM which will be towards the end of March 2009. The fee is $40/ and should be mailed to the Aware Office ( see application form).

Look forward to hearing from you. Please call me. May I have your phone no?

Blessings,
Su Mein

Supporters of AWARE old guards step up internet campaign against new exco

By The Singapore Enquirer

Supporters of AWARE old guards have stepped up their internet campaign to rally for support in a bid to oust the newly elected exco through the coming EGM on 2 May 2009 via a vote of non confidence.

Calling themselves “Save AWARE“, they mince no words in the introductory message on  their website here:

“The foundation of AWARE as an inclusive and secular society has been challenged. At the AGM on 28th March 2009, a group of women who were mostly entirely new to AWARE (generally, 2 – 5 months experience) orchestrated a takeover of AWARE to further their own agenda.

We, concerned members of AWARE, are working with former AWARE Committee Members and Founder Members to petition for an EGM to consider a vote of no confidence in the New Exco.”

Considerable efforts and time have been spent in keeping the site as informative as possible with meticulous documentation of AWARE’s vision and mission, its achievements over the last 25 years and testimonies from women who were recipients of its assistance.

While the site is comprehensive in outlining their objectives and in giving a detailed account of what exactly happened, the tone of language used may sound emotional at times.

For example, under the section on “Myths debunked”, the new exco members were alluded to in a less than flattering manner:

“Do we want to be led by ruthless and shadowy persons who cannot speak for themselves, who dishonour and exclude other members, who are evasive and refuse to disclose their plans, aims and visions to the members they lead?”

The main point of contention lies not only in the continued reluctance of the new exco to communicate its plans and goals to its members, but in the disrespectful treatment which it has dished out to veteran members like ex-Presidents Braema Mathi and Constance Singam.

The site leaves no stones unturned in preparing a list of FAQs for visitors who have not been keeping themselves updated on the recent events.

Besides the website, the members have also set up two facegroups and make use of blogs to convey their message across.

The AWARE episode will be watched closely by political observers as it marked the first instance in which online civil activism is mobilized to fight for an offline cause.

Offer of olive branch by AWARE President Josie Lau Meng Lee failed to convince sceptics; Old Guards gathering troops to fight back

By Eugene Yeo

In spite holding out an olive branch to disgrunted AWARE members during her interview with CNA “Talking Point” last Saturday, many remained sceptical of the agenda of new AWARE President Josie Lau.

During the interview, Ms Josie Lau says her priority is to reconcile members of the Association of Women And Research (Aware) following the controversial leadership change on March 28. (read report here)

She hopes that an extraordinary general meeting to be held soon will provide an opportunity for an open discussion.

‘The team has clearly fissured. I want to operate such that my members can support me, and we can all disagree in an agreeable environment,’ she said.

Josie claimed that she knew her new exco members only lately though 6 out of 9 of them attend Anglican Church of Our Savior at Margaret Drive.

Josie also made use of the interview to criticize the old exco for failing to bring AWARE forward after 24 years by highlighting its dwindling membership under the stewardship of the previous presidents.

She said change was needed because Aware had lost its focus and diversified too much, going into too many different areas. The result was that it did not have enough depth.

‘Like any good corporation, if you have diversified too much, consolidate,’ she said. ‘And as with any new committee, we know that resources are always limited, (so) let’s take a look and review what is done in the past that is good, let’s keep that, and what new ideas we have, bring on.’

More ominously, Josie chose to skirt the question about her new exco’s stance on sexuality when she could be more forthcoming with an answer to allay lingering doubts about their anti-homosexuality agenda.

Near the end of the programme Ms Lau was asked how her exco would respond to a woman facing discrimination at work because of her sexuality.

She replied: ‘Aware is a secular organisation. We are not there to push our personal religious beliefs. We do not discriminate against anyone of particular religion, whether you are a man or woman.

‘Talking about sexual discrimination, it is a very controversial topic, and the new exco will have to take a new look at this and see what is the role we want to take.’

Unfortunately, the old guard may not give Josie and her new committee much time to discuss about the role they are going to take.

Emails have been circulated to the community urging Singaporeans to join AWARE to “make their votes count”.

A facegroup has been set up to draw public attention to their cause here

If they want to push their agenda, let them form their own organisation.

If they truly care so much about women’s rights, they should work WITH AWARE, not against them.

If there is nothing sinister about their actions, they should stop their silence and explain to us why they did what they did and what are their plans for the future.

If they do not have anything to hide, they could have simply said “We will continue to do the good work that AWARE has been doing and improve on it.”

Instead, they have simply said “No comment”

As long as they continue to keep silent, we will continue to believe that their agenda differs from the current AWARE mission and we need to work together to get these group of people out of AWARE’s ex-co.

In order to help ensure that AWARE maintains in safe hands, a group of people are gathering women to sign up as members of AWARE. If you are a woman in Singapore and are keen to help maintain the mission statement of AWARE, please turn up during the coming EOGM to cast your vote.

Ordinary members who were previously inactive now felt compelled to speak out against the “hostile takeover” of AWARE:

“If you’ve read the Straits Times, TODAY, or have been in contact with an AWARE member recently, you’ll be aware of what has happened to our organisation. 150 members have recently submitted a petition to the new ExCo for an Extraordinary General Meeting to ask the new team about their motives and plans for the organisation.  So far they have already removed chairpeople from key AWARE committees.

We are concerned what they’ll do about key aware programmes that don’t align with their undisclosed agenda. The EGM has been scheduled by the new ExCo for Saturday, May 2.(Happens to be on a holiday weekend, so we’re worried people won’t be able to attend…) Please attend and support the old guard of AWARE. We may have a vote of no confidence so we need you there. Rally as many of your friends to join AWARE and come to the meeting. This is extremely important if you care about the future of women’s issues in this country.”

It appears that the new exco’s reticence on feminism and their plans for AWARE’s future continues to be its Achilles Heel as it struggles to win over disaffected members who are still reeling from shock over the controversy which the organization now find itself embroiled in.

Another member expressed doubts over the sudden increase in AWARE’s membership this year:

“From January – March of this year, AWARE’s membership increased by over 100 members. Many of the new members submitted applications on photocopied forms, suggesting they had been given out at a large meeting. These new members showed up en mass at AWARE’s Annual General Meeting on March 28 and voted themselves in nine of twelve Executive Committee positons. They now hold the majority and decision-making power.

None of these women had volunteered with AWARE before. When asked of their opinions on feminism their responses were noncommital. When asked about their plans for the future of AWARE, they also had little to say.

Several are members of a very anti-gay church and have been public about their hostility towards gays. Rumor has it that this takeover was stragetically planned because AWARE is an open and welcoming place for women, regardless of class, race, or sexuality.

In the little time these women have been in charge of AWARE, they have fired the highly respected chairs of several important subcommittees. These subcomms were conducting research for the United Nations and for Singapore, and now that research is in danger.”

Did the new exco win the election square and fair or is it a pre-mediated “constitutional coup” to seize control of Singapore’s leading women advocacy group?

Are the old guards hypocrites in employing the same method to oust their adversaries? Is this becoming a battle between the Christian conservatives and the secular liberals?

Regardless of the outcome, the acrimony resulting from the fallout will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of those involved for a long time to come.

Nevertheless, it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for AWARE and Singapore civil society as previously apathetic members are galvanized and empowered to stake a claim to its ownership for their own beliefs and values.

Reference: Mathia Lee

Letter from AWARE about EGM agenda

“With reference to the 24th AGM of the AWARE duly convened on 28th Mar 09, the members present and voting had, by majority vote, decided to discuss the Proposed Constitutional Amendments at an EGM to be convened by the duly elected ExCo 09/10″manager@aware.org.sg or call 67797137.“

The documents relevant to the above meeting will be sent seperately at a later date.

 Agenda:

1. Confirmation of Minutes of the 24th AGM held on 28th Mar 09
2. Matters Arising
3. Requisition for EGM
4. Proposed Constitutional Amendments ( to be sent later)
5. AOB

Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda should give notice to the Honorary Secretary no later than 22nd Apr 2009.

By Order of The Executive Committee

Jenica Chua (Ms)
Honorary Secretary
AWARE

 

Reference: Requisition for EGM

We the undersigned constituting at least 10% of the membership of AWARE hereby request that an EGM to be called to consider and pass the following resolutions:

1. That the current Executive Committee has lost the mandate and confidence of th mebers of the Society to continue as the Executive Committee of the Society on the basis that the Current Exco:

a. has not acted and is not acting in the best interest of the Society; and/or
b. does not appreciate or share the values of the Society; and/or
c. does not have the requisite experience of carrying out the Society’s work or is otherwise inadequate to further the Society’s objectives;

2. that all members of the Current Exco be and are hereby removed from their positions on the Executive Committee; and

3. that a replacement Executive Committee be elected to serve for the remainder of the current term

We request that the Notice to call the EGM be issued no later than 14 days from the date of this request.

Dated 14th Apr, undersigned by 160 members.

 Source: Mathia Lee

VIDEO: AWARE new President Josie Lau was evasive on sensitive questions during interview with CNA “Talking Point” (Part 1)

Background:

The recent AWARE AGM ended with much controversy and acrimony between the old and new exco members who were accused of ‘hijacking’ the election to further their own personal cause. What exactly happened? Listen to the interview with AWARE new President Josie Lau to find out

Recorded from CNA “Talking Point”:

PART 1

PART 2

(Will be screened tonight) 

 

EDITORS’ NOTE:

Josie Lau and Maureen Ong were quick and eager to defend the legitimacy of the new AWARE Exco throughout the interview while conveniently skirting sensitive questions.

Debra Ong and P N Balji were too diplomatic and should quiz them directly on their alleged connection as members from the same church.

In the closing minutes, Josie Lau chose to leave the question on her stance on sexuality unanswered which left us with lingering doubts about her real agenda.

The two Exco members could have been forthcoming in addressing the many speculations which had arisen in both the new and print media over their backgrounds and motives for taking over AWARE and the strained relationships with the Old Guard.

Unfortunately, while they have given Singaporeans a glimpse of their future direction for AWARE, they did not sound convincing in allaying concerns that their personal beliefs may become complicit in the work AWARE is doing.

AWARE Old Guard should adopt the PAP system to entrench themselves in positions of power

By Fang Zhi Yuan

The recent power grab in AWARE by an unknown group of young turks who managed to oust most of the Old Guard through a simple majority vote at its AGM has become a contentious issue in the leading woman advocacy group in Singapore.

150 or so members of AWARE have called for an EGM to take the new committee to task for its failure to disclose their agendas for launching an audacious bid to take over the organization.

The Old Guards only have themselves to blame for being forced rather unceremoniously out of power. Under AWARE’s Constitution, any member can run for the CEC after which the various positions such as the President and Hononary Secretary are decided within the CEC members themselves.

If the Old Guards want to keep familiar faces in the CEC for the sake of continuity and clarity of mission, they should have taken a leaf out of the PAP system and adopt a different Constitution to pre-empt this unsavory episode from occurring in the first place.

Have you ever wondered why the PAP has seen no major leadership changes at its helm after 50 years in power?

Under the Constitution of the PAP, ordinary cadres have limited say in choosing their own leaders.

The PAP’s CEC is essentially an exclusive old boys club on its own. There are no direct elections for the important positions of Secretary-General, Chairman and Treasurer.

The PAP’s Secretary-General is usually the Prime Minister of Singapore as defined by tradition. Lee Kuan Yew was its Secretary-General for nearly four decades before he passed the baton to Goh Chok Tong who in turn relinquished it to Lee Hsien Loong after he stepped down in 2003 as Prime Minister.

While elections are held for the CECs of both the main party and Young PAP, it is the Secretary-General’s prerogative to appoint “losers” who fail to make the mark back into the CEC.

In the last PAP CEC elections, Dr Ng Eng Hen was unable to obtain the necessary number of votes  and was ushered into the CEC through the “backdoor”.

Though such a system runs against the grain of democratic principles, it has worked well for the PAP over the years by entrenching a few leaders firmly in positions of power thereby minimizing the potential of any political upheavals from the files and ranks below.

Had AWARE adopted the PAP system earlier, the fiasco would never have materialized. The President of AWARE will be able to appoint members who lost in the elections into the CEC directly and ostracize the new members by sidelining them within the CEC.

The downside of such a system is that it impedes leadership renewal by entrenching a certain clique or faction within the party while effectively prevent its removal via democratic means.

A corrupted, power-hungry and manipulative leader can easily make use of the powers of incumbency to control and the rule the organization forever with little accountability and transparency.

The Old Guard of AWARE should be glad that there are younger generations of leaders who are passionate enough to run for the elections and continue the work they have left behind.

In the spirit of democracy, the new AWARE committee should be given the time and space to prove its worth. After all, they won the election square and fair on their own merits instead of riding on the coat-tails of more established leaders.

 

(This article was first published on The Singapore Enquirer on 17 April 2009)

The new adventures of Josie and the pussycats

By Sam (from Sam’s blog)

Ms Josie Lau Meng Lee, or Mrs Alan Chin Yew Liang, a vice-president of consumer banking group cards and unsecured loans for DBS Bank, was elected President of the Association for Women’s Action and Research (AWARE).

DBS has stated it does not support its staff, given the responsibilities of being a top executive, to take upon such a leadership role.

Previously, DBS was embroiled in public relations nightmare when it adopted Focus on the Family as its charity. The charity is a global organisation, and is fundamentalist Christian. It was met with resistance by the sexual minority community here. See ST and Yawning Bread.

So who exactly is Josie Lau? A brief check with “Josie Lau” in the newspaper archives, reveal a previous career with the tourism board, but maybe there is another person who shares the same name. This “Josie” also loves to eat, according to a May 2, 2004, ST Lifestyle article.

The Straits Times is actually stoking the conspiracy for most of us. It has asked as to whether the newly appointed executive committee members of the women’s awareness group, are in any way connected.

At the most, and with the most spine-tingling of political correctness, we can be certain they are all connected by their motivation to serve and address women- and gender-related issues in Singapore.

But the press and blogosphere have picked up on the bread crumbs and suggested that there are other connections, although they can’t be formally or publically proven.

Well, for the moment, we know that Angela Thiang  works for Thio Su Mien (see here and here).

We know that the newly appointed AWARE president Josie Lau is married to the doctor of your morality, Dr Alan Chin Yew Liang. He writes to the press regularly, and a majority of his letters are very homophobic (see here and here and here).

The names mentioned belong to people who have publicly striven to dehumanise non-heterosexual sexual orientation, for instance reducing homosexuality to pathology or lifestyle/choice.

There are newer questions/suspicions now:

1) Why choose Josie Lau?

2) If so it seems, why is DBS distancing themselves from Josie Lau?

3) Is Josie Lau part of a “team”?

4) Why did the older members walk out? Of course, there’s the “pride and complacency” argument on the one hand; on the other hand, there’s the “disillusioned and pissed off with the takeover (tactics)” argument.

Read full article here