Caught off-guard by big turnout, longtime members lose to fresh faces
| By Wong Kim Hoh | ||
 |  | Barely a week into her new term, and before making her first statement as president, Mrs Nazar quit suddenly this week. She confirmed that she had resigned, but declined to say any more when reached by The Straits Times. -- ST FILE PHOTO |
When Aware held its annual general meeting on March 28, everyone expected the usual: No more than 30 or 40 members would turn up at its Dover Crescent centre, and a prepared slate of candidates would be voted into office easily.
| THE EX-PRESIDENTS
The New Team THE Straits Times understands that the following were elected to Aware's new committee on March 28, 2009. |
Instead, more than 100 people came, the majority of whom had joined Aware only in recent months.
And when the election of office bearers began, almost every position was challenged by new faces, who won by wide majorities.
In the end, nine out of 12 executive committee spots went to the newcomers.
One older member who won without a contest was Mrs Claire Nazar, a former corporate counsel nominated to be president by outgoing Aware chief Constance Singam.
But barely a week into her new term, and before making her first statement as president, Mrs Nazar quit suddenly this week.
She confirmed that she had resigned, but declined to say any more when reached by The Straits Times.
It is not known who will now become president.
Longtime members took two other positions: Chew I-Jin as assistant honorary treasurer and Caris Lim Chai Leng was elected a committee member.
'It was alarming. How could a new member who had just joined for a couple of months, and whom we knew nothing about, be picked over someone who has been with Aware for more than 15 years?'
Former president Dana Lam
'I arrived at the meeting late and found out that I was No. 100 on the attendance list. I've been a member for 10 years, and never before has there been such a turnout.'
Former president Tan Joo Hymn
'The building of an institution takes many years; building its value system is even harder. Why can't they come in and be part of the process, and build it together and in a more evolutionary manner? That way, the comfort level will be high for everyone.'
Former president Braema Mathi
But new president Claire Nazar has just quit her post. She confirmed this, but declined to comment further when contacted by The Straits Times.
Of the other committee members, only Ms Chew I-Jin and Ms Caris Lim are longtime members of Aware.
Ms Chew had been nominated by the Aware old guard for the vice-president's post but she was trounced by newcomer Charlotte Wong, and had to settle for the assistant treasurer's position, which she won without a contest.
The Straits Times e-mailed Aware this week requesting interviews with members of the new committee, but did not receive a reply.
The newspaper also tried contacting some of the members - Jenica Chua, Josie Lau and Lois Ng - on their mobile phones, hoping they might shed light on who they are, how they are connected to other newly elected office-bearers, or what they are planning to do now that they are in charge.
Ms Lau and Ms Ng could not be reached.
Ms Chua confirmed that she was on the new executive committee and said Aware would be releasing a press statement in 'the next few days'.
But she flatly refused to take any more questions.
The Straits Times also contacted two other new members who were at the AGM: Ms Angela Thiang, who spoke up in support of the newcomers who stood for election, and Dr Alan Chin, who helped to count the votes.
Ms Thiang said she would return the call, but did not. She could not be reached subsequently.
Dr Chin confirmed that he was an Aware member but, like the others, refused to answer any questions.
New guard: No comment, for now.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_361931.html
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