Let's have a code to ensure transparency of societies

Let's have a code to ensure transparency of societies

THE AWARE saga suggests the usefulness of instituting a "code for takeovers" for registered charities and registered societies, similar to the code which applies primarily to listed public companies and listed registered business trusts.

Charities and registered societies play a vital role in supporting a flourishing civil polity by delivering aid to the needy, providing advocacy on behalf of marginalised groups and serving as an intermediary between the state and the people.

If the boards and trustees of charities and registered societies are protected from challengers, they would tend to become complacent, if not negligent, and society would lose out.

What is crucial is transparency.

- First, the slate of candidates (both incumbent and newcomers) for the board or executive committee of a charity or registered society should be made known to the members at least one month prior to an election.

- Second, candidates should disclose whether, and with whom, they are "acting in concert".

- Third, candidates should disclose their intentions concerning the organisation and whether they plan to make any major changes to its direction or programmes.

The members of the charity or registered society can then make an informed decision at the election, and the crisis of legitimacy as was faced by the "new guard" at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) will be less likely to occur.

Joseph Wong Kok Sen

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