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THE new exco of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) has not decided whether to invite deposed president Ms Josie Lau, 48, back as an adviser.
The decision will be made at an exco meeting later this week. But, if Ms Lau is not invited back, it would be against Aware's constitution. Article 14 states that the immediate past president shall serve on the exco in an advisory role for not more than one term. The newly-elected president, Mrs Dana Lam Yoke Kiew, 56, said this was a new situation for Aware, since no previous president had resigned after a vote of no-confidence was passed on her exco. The previous exco stepped down after the no-confidence motion was passed by 1,414 to 761 votes in an acrimonious extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Saturday. Mrs Claire Nazar, the president before Ms Lau, is also expected not be invited to serve as adviser. Mrs Nazar had resigned after just 11 days in office. When asked if Mrs Constance Singam, 72,, the last Aware president to serve a full term would advise the new exco, Mrs Lam said: 'The exco doesn't need Mrs Singam officially as an adviser to ask her for her advice.' She said Aware members are always consulting each other. It is their way of supporting the new generation of Aware leaders. 'All executive committees have been able to draw on past Aware presidents on any issue.' Mrs Lam also welcomed supporters of the new guard to participate in Aware's programmes and make themselves heard, just like any other member. The exco would welcome feedback from the members, and their opinions will always be taken into consideration, she added. When contacted, Mrs Singam said there is a culture of consultation in Aware. Whenever a new committee wants advice, the members can just ask all the old presidents. 'It doesn't matter if I'm in the position of adviser or not. I'm retired and always available,' she said. 'I've been here for 24 years. I'm the walking encyclopaedia of Aware, so of course people will consult me.' Lawyer Gregory Vijayendran, of Rajah and Tann, Aware's legal adviser at the EGM, told The New Paper that technically, under Article 14 of Aware's constitution, Ms Lau should be invited to serve on the exco in an advisory role as she is the immediate past president. But he said the purpose underlying the article was probably to keep a link between the new exco and its predecessor exco in the context of a consensual handover at an annual general meeting (AGM). Its purpose is in all likelihood to ensure continuity in Aware's programmes, a smooth transition between excos and not to lose the wisdom of the immediately preceding exco, hence the advisory role. But two features distinguish the current situation from a typical succession procedure: The current exco was elected at an EGM, not at an AGM The previous exco resigned en masse after they received a vote of no-confidence These might mitigate against the directive to invite an immediate past president to serve as adviser, he said. 'The letter points one way, the spirit points the other way,' he added. Aware's new centre manager, Ms Magdalene Teo, also resigned yesterday, just a week after her appointment. She had replaced Ms Schutz Lee, who was sacked by the previous exco for allegedly not following instructions. The old guard, including founding members Mrs Lena Lim U Wen and Mrs Hedwig Anuar, were at the Aware Centre yesterday for lunch. Mrs Singam said she felt 'free' and 'very happy to breathe the free air at Aware'. Additional reporting by Pearly Tan, newsroom intern
Guard against prejudice The Aware saga has brought up a number of growing developments in Singapore society which need to be scrutinised more carefully. Regardless of whether one supported the old or new guard or was ambivalent, there appears to be a growing divide between certain sections of Singapore society on a number of issues. On issues such as homosexuality, as the Aware saga showed, there seems to be growing interest among certain fundamentalist Christian groups in the affairs of secular organisations. As many have pointed out, when religion is mixed into the running of secular organisations or local politics, conflicts of interest will arise. It may be timely for the Government to clearly define the boundaries and limits for interest groups (especially those with public standing) that may operate with a less than transparent religious agenda. It is crucial that the Aware saga should not be simply interpreted - as some detractors have labelled it - as a mere 'catfight' between two groups of women and their opposing values. To do so would be to downplay and trivialise a larger issue - that what was at stake during last Saturday's EGM was also about the future development of Singapore's civil society, and the need to guard against latent discrimination and the incursion of hidden agendas. FROM DR KEVIN S Y TAN Value religious harmony
I had always been a typical apathetic Singaporean. But the Aware saga made me realise how vulnerable our secular society is if we are not vigilant against those who seize control of secular organisations to champion their religious causes. I signed up as an Aware member to support the 'old guard' at the EGM. I am heartened that so many people shook off their apathy to attend the EGM. We take our religious harmony for granted. We must not. The authorities should take action against anyone who breaches the law and threatens the religious harmony we enjoy in Singapore. FROM CHNG SAI CHOO Have social values won?
The Aware saga may have drawn to a close, but I feel there are a few issues that have not been addressed. Singapore Law does not allow homosexuality. Does that mean that Aware can now promote it after the 'victory' by the old guard? What will be taught in our schools from now on? If a talk is held in school and the topic is to accept/ tolerate/ understand homosexuality as part of our society, as a conservative parent, I would not like my child to attend it. Can he be excused? So the old guard won, but who is the loser? The new guard or our social values? FROM DAVID NG Bigger issues to tackle
It was heartwarming to hear new members and associated members who are parents speak up and agree that Aware's involvement in schools is good for their children. By being honest with teenagers, we can help them make the right decisions after being informed of the consequences of their actions. I have faith the new Aware team will not ostracise the previous Exco members who wish to remain as Aware members and volunteer under the new committee. Let's move on. We have bigger issues to tackle, such as the economic downturn and the H1N1 flu outbreak. FROM SIBBY ZB |
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