LIVE: Aware showdown

May 2, 2009 Straits Times
LIVE: Aware showdown

8.59pm: Old exco proposed motion to remove Ms Josie Lau's exco. This was passed with two objections. It now wants to elect a new exco - position for position.

8.51pm: Event organiser said new exco president Josie Lau and committee members are coming back shortly. Old guard exco says demand they return by 8.50pm or assembly will pass motion to remove the new team.

8.47pm: "I declare by their conduct they have resigned," declared former president of Aware, Ms Braema Mathi. New exco has made no appearance since vote count was made known.

8.43pm: Audience waiting for new exco president Josie Lau and team to come back on stage to respond whether they will resign or not, following no confidence vote on them.

8.15pm: Legally the new exco is allowed to stay in office even though vote of no confidence has been passed, said Aware's legal counsel Gregory Vijayendran.

8.10pm: Vote of no confidence on new Aware Exco passed with votes of 2 to 1. The assembly calls for mass resignation of exco.

6.38pm: A sex education trainer from the Aware's comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programme said that materials that were supposed to be privy only to trainers were posted on Aware's website. She says homosexuality takes up only 1.5 minutes of the three-hour lesson, compared to 30 minutes on abstinance.

5.59pm: Ms Maureen Ong said in an answer to a member,that they have spent about $90,000 in the one month the new exco has been in office.

5.52pm: A new member asks the new exco if helping all women include helping lesbians. Will it be less or more pro-gay? She says she is a devout Christian and sends her kids to Aware programme. Ms Lau says she will stand up for 'discriminated' lesbians.

5.32pm: An associate member steps up to speak. Said Mrs Constance Singam reminded him of his dead mother. The three-time former Aware president gave him a 'motherly smile'.

5.27pm: Ms Chew I-Jin reveals she stepped down as assistant treasurer due to a lack of transparency, as she was not given the infomatiion on costs incurred for EGM and security.

5.21pm: The old guard supporters question new exco on money spent on booking location, which has cost more than $20,000.

5.06pm: In her right to reply, Ms Lau said former Aware President Constance Singam was asked to step out of a recent meeting after the March 28 AGM as sensitive matters were discussed. Ms Lau also said Ms Schutz Lee, Aware's ex-centre manager, was fired for 'insurbordination'.

4.46pm: There is now a 10-minute break. Proposed constitution amendments adjourned for a while.

4.28pm: Votes are now being counted. New exco discusses proposed constitutional amendments.

4.10pm: NMP Siew Kum Hong asks for their team of scrutineers to monitor the vote counting process. New exco's legal counsel has agreed. Votes are being cast now.

4.02pm: Feminist mentor Thio Su Mien has now stepped up to the mike, asks people to 'show respect to their elders'. She says she is charmed to appear in a book celebrating women.

4pm: Several new members step out to express their displeasure at the new exco. 'You have not shown the grace of god at all,' said one.

3.47pm: Crowd chants 'where were you' after Mrs Singam asks where new exco were in the past 24 years. Ms Lau asks for right to reply from old guard supporters.

3.43pm: Irene Ang speaks at mike. She says, "I'm a Christian and i love God as much as you do. But I don't agree with what the new exco is doing."

3.42pm: A new member recites part of the pledge, stressing justice and equality, that the old guard has not been treated equally. The crowd is exuberant and cheers as she attributes increase in membership to old guard. It is now chaotic as the new and old supporters shout at the mike.

3.30pm: Voters are now briefed on voting procedure. Each ordinary member is entitled to one vote. Men are not allowed to vote.

3.25pm: They have skipped to agenda items 3 and 4. Mr Gregory, the legal counsel said: "Whilst a vote of no confidence does not mean the new exco has to step down, they should consider doing so."

3.13pm: Ms Lau introduces her new exco members' profiles to boos from crowd.

3.04pm: Ms Sally Ang from the new exco shouted to the crowd: 'shut up and sit down'. The crowd boos and asks for her to be escorted out. Ms Lau apologises for Ms Ang's outburst. Ms Ang has just once again admonished the crowd sternly to let Ms Lau continue.

2.56pm: Ms Lau's legal counsel, Greg, has asked for the microphones to be left switched on, to cheers from supporters. Before, when old guard members tried to speak, the mikes were not switched on. All photographers are now asked to leave as some used flash photography. All those jeering are asked to leave too.

2.30pm: Ms Lau is interrupted repeatedly in her president's address by the audience. She has asked security to ask unruly people out.

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