LIVE from Suntec: AWARE EGM, 2 May 2009

LIVE from Suntec: AWARE EGM, 2 May 2009

May 2, 2009 by Field Reporter

From The Field Report Team

Our team of freelance reporters will be bringing you the EGM LIVE from Suntec City.

This page will be updated along the way to bring you the latest developments.

[Note to team: please do not duplicate reports, instructions as per given in email last night, please check your mailbox, those on holding list, please confirm if you are available asap]

7.25pm: “I joined AWARE in 2004 - 2006….I am observing, sorry no offence, there is no leadership in the new exco, it doesn’t make sense at all to spend $90,000.”

7.22pm: “I am a Christian and the Lord asks us to embrace all! As a NGO, we struggled hard to get money. Now $90,000 is gone in an instance. This is SHAMEFUL!!!”

7.20pm: “You have misappropriated funds as far as I see. What’s wrong of reaching out first? You are in a position of power….You wondered why we are so angry, but at the beginning, you are the ones who erased our voices and we are not the ones going around to remove people. We are not causing any physical harm and you are calling your guards to remove us, is this fair? How can I respect you when you are treating me like a child? And you are so rude to us! How can I believe that you are going to campaign for equality for women when you don’t treat us equally.”

7.15pm: “I am a Muslim with 3 daughter. I was a criminal investigator. In the course of my work, I have seen so much fear of women that they are not worthy of men. I support the work done by the old Aware…We need to have evidence, the spirit of inquiry to enable our ladies to make informed choices and because of that, I would be very proud of my daughter to go through the CSE programme. And I have one regret being a father, I regret that my daughters are not here today to witness the spirit of the women at Aware today.”

7.10pm: Clarie Nazar: “I resigned on 30 April 2009. The reason for my resignation is that if you have been more inclusive, I would not have resigned in the first place. I have been excluded from exco meetings and sidelined.”

7.05pm: Braema Mathi: “My reputation is being put on the line and I don’t like it, but I will not follow the examples of leaders and launch defamation lawsuits against you!”

6.55pm: “We have told you that the report is in the process of being prepared, why are you still badgering Braema when she is overseas? When you removed Braema, all of us at CEDAW wrote in a letter of protest, but you didn’t even have the courtesy to give us a reply!”

6.51pm: “We do not have a draft report to give to you because the volunteers are still conducting their research. Braema Mathi is willing to give you a verbal update, but you refuse.”

6.50pm: Braema: “I replied two days later apologizing for the delay and explaining for the delay and asked for a meeting to discuss the CEDAW report.”

6.47pm: “The reason why Braema Mathi is removed because she had not sent us the report in spite of the numerous reminders.”

6.43pm: “As a NGO, money is a big thing! We have to build networks to reach out to everybody. This corporate culture clashes with Aware as a NGO which alot is about consensus, inclusiveness and working for nothing.”

6.41pm: “I feel very sad to come to a woman’s organization where its President asked us to ’shut up and sit down’. Today is the time to speak out, not shut up and sit down, never!” (applause broke out)

6.40pm: Dr Alan Chin: “I am from COOS and I am not ashamed to admit that. I would like to clarify that COOS did not ask its members to come here to promote Christianity. Please be rational, although $90,000 is spent, but we have recouped it by the new membership fees of $120,000.”

6.34pm: “I am a trainer in the CSE. The three words - anal sex, homosexuality and lesbianism are only mentioned in one and a half minute out of 3 hours of the programme of which half is spent on promoting abstinence - how to refuse sex. The material is meant to be private and confidential and for the person to put it online is downright irresponsible.”

6.32pm: “I am a Christian and I have sex in secondary school. I am for a system which enabled people to make informed choices and not to make judgement on others. We need to give that choice.”

6.30pm: Josie quoted some study from Utah that abstinence is important to help reduce sexual activity amongst adolescents much to the chagrin of the audience.

6.26pm: “I would like to clarify about the CSE, if you not aware, 15 years of research showed that CSE is inclusive and appropriate in its teaching of use of condoms and to discuss a wide range of sexual techniques and study have shown that such a programme will delay onset of sexual activity and promote safer sexual activity and behavior leading to decrease in HIV infection rates at later life, so I don’t understand why you are discrediting this programme. As a parent myself, I would like my child to go through this programme. Just discussing a wide range of sexual behavior does not make one a homosexual. Your child won’t come back and say ‘Hey, I want to marry a person of same sex!”

6.25pm: “You have destroyed Aware, an organization with 25 years of proud history. Go and start another organization of your own!”

6.22pm: “The new exco has used such a large sum of money without approval from its members. Can we report it to the Commissioner of Charities?” [legal counsel refused to answer, claimed it is outside his purview]

6.20pm: Constance Singam appealed to the audience to accept the result of the ballot, whichever it turns out, in good spirit.

6.16pm: “I am a legal advisor of the old guard. I would offer legal advice to Aware pro bono. If you have asked for help from the old guards, you would have to be able to obtain free legal advice. Did you ask?

6.15pm: Legal counsel: “Under Article 18 of the Constitution, it is stipulated that the exco is not authoritzed to spend more than $20,000 for purposes of the society without approval of its members via a secret ballot.

6.12pm: “I would like to ask the legal counsel for opinion about the new exco spending $70,000 more that the legal limits set by Aware’s constitution (applause broke out).

6.06pm: “I am an academic in Singapore and I would like to clarify something about feminism. You can cannot speak out for a marginalized group like women without speaking up for all marginalized groups regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. I have traveled all over the world and everybody I spoke to has high regards for Aware. Today, Aware has an international profile which is respected by human rights activists, please don’t undermine the international credibility of aware by your thoughtless actions.

6.05pm: Results will be out in 10 minutes.

6.02pm: “This is ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING. You have spent $70,000 above the accepted limit!!!”

6.00pm: Josie Lau: “The estimate cost of the legal counsel is NINTY THOUSAND or $90,000!!!” (no joke, you are not hearing wrongly.

5.55pm: ”I understand that a legal counsel cost ten of thousands. Please give me an estimate on how much Aware has spent on the legal counsel even if you cannot give me an accurate figure.

5.51pm: “It is very bizzare to say that just because we propose allowing associate male members to vote, we are promoting homosexuality. This shows you are not ready to lead the organization at all.”

5.50pm: Josie said she will send lesbians who are discriminated for counselling. Somebody from the crowd shouted: “but we don’t trust you!!”

5.45pm: “I am gay and I am concerned about the new exco saying homosexuality is not okay. I feel terribly insulted. Please do not impose your values on everybody. Sorry, this is not personal.”

5.40pm: I am Chiang, an event organizer. I am surprised you spent so much money on the event. Renting a place at $18,000 and paying for an event organizer should not have happened. You should be asking around for people to help, to ask for somebody to offer a free stage, if you have called me, I would have organized it for free. I am SHOCKED, I don’t know where my $40 is going. If, IF you survive this no-confidence vote, please put a lawyer on the exco and you won’t need a legal counsel, every single cent should go to the people you wanted to help!!

5.36pm: What is your stance on the male chapter of men? I am very worried about that.

5.31pm: Josie explained that the costs are being compounded and urged the audience to be patient. She pleaded for understanding that the new exco has very little time to handle the matter.

5.30pm: I Jin, the assistant treasurer claimed she has not been consulted on all maters proper by the new exco.

5.26pm: Josie explained that she has to outsource the event organizing to the Boardroom due to the short notice the EGM was called.

5.25pm: “To Josie, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I emailed you asking to meet so that we can work out the organization of the EGM together, but you are reluctant to do so.”

5.22pm: “The point is not whether you have spent over the $20,000. The point is you need to seek the members’ approval. You are NOT ABOVE THE LAW, you cannot change the Constitution to serve your own personal purpose.

5.21pm: Josie: “tell me how you will handle this situation.”

5.20pm: “I am a practising lawyer and you have breached ?ultra vibes the constitution by spending over the limit! The maximum amount you are allowed to spend is $20,000 and anything above, we the members reserve the legal right to…”

5.17pm: Questioner pressed on why new exco spent more than $20,000. Maureen explained that she had no choice as the membership has exceeded 3,000 this week and she has to get Hall 403 as well which cost $5,000. (crowd booed).

5.16pm:Maureen revealed that the Suntec venue cost $18,000, so the new exco has most likely over-spent the $20,000 limit.

5.15pm: Maureen Goh explained that Singapore EXPO venue was cancelled because police is concerned about law and order issues.

5.10pm: Josie Lau refused to answer the question directly, asked lady to sit down as she has asked more than 1 question, lady refused to go away, Josie asked security to “escort” her off.

5.07pm: Question asked about Aware’s spending. Under Aware’s constitution, Aware only allowed to spend no more than $20,000 a month.

5.05pm: Question raised about why new exco asked Constance Singam to leave the meeting. Josie replied that she was asked to leave because “sensitive issues” are being discussed.

5.01pm: Josie explained that Shultz Lee was sacked for insubordination and that the interim manager was recruited from COOS because she was immediately available.

4.55pm: Josie claimed she was given no opportunity to explain herself to members and was “played out” by the media.

4.51pm: Josie explained that she did not know Sally, Jenica or Maureen before the Aware AGM. She reiterated that she was invited by Claire Nazar to join Aware to help out in the marketing.

4.50pm: The crowd is fielding questions at the new exco who kept pleading to give them a right of reply.

4.45pm: New exco referred to legal counsel again if constitutional amendments should proceed.

4.40pm: Legal counsel asked for show of hand who oppose continuing the debate on the constitutional amendments. The majority of the crowd raise up their hands.

4.35pm: New members protest against the constitutional amendments as many have not read it here. One proposed it to be postponed to the next AGM.

4.32pm: Thio Su Mien? called the crowd hooligans. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”

4.31pm: Josie Lau wants to go through the constitutional amendments, somebody from the crowd asked her to step down till the vote count is completed as she may not be the President anymore.

4.30pm: Voting has been completed. Votes are being tabulated now.

4.25pm: The red shirts are leaving droves after casting their votes, this is obviously a wayang.

4.15pm: Voting now in process.

4.11pm: Siew Kum Hong speaking. I ask the legal counsel what the legal option should be to monitor the voting process.

4.10pm: The voting begins. Ballot boxes are being passed around.

4.07pm: Thio Su Mien forced to stop her speech. Crowd kept chanting - “We are Aware! We are Aware! We are Aware!!”

4.02pm: Thio Su Mien going to speak, crowd BOOED!!! “I believe I am a feminist mentor because…, please show some civility” (crowd kept interrupting). “Listen to me, I was….you have NO RESPECT FOR THE ELDERS” (BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) “I was the first female law dean..”…ORDER, ORDER, please listen!!

4.01pm: Thio Su Mien going to speak, crowd BOOED!!! “I believe I am a feminist mentor because…”

4.00pm: I am a new member and previously unaware of aware and not I am aware of aware after today. You have shown no respect to others, this is not God’s follower. It is totally deceptive.

3.57pm: I join AWARE only 3 weeks ago and I support a vote of vote against the new exco. For those of you sitting out there supporting the new exco, they are all of the same race, the same faith and worship in the same place.

3.56pm: As a non-Christian, I am suspicious of your insidious motives to take over Aware and for the first time of my life, I am afraid of Christians.

3.55pm: Is it not true that you (Josie) have been not open and honest with us from the very beginning? I am worried that if you stay on in Aware, you may change the fundamental mission of Aware! You and your team are not qualified to lead this organization.

3.50pm: New exco request for the right of reply, crowd won’t allow.

3.46pm: Constance Singam speaking. You have to trust and honor the achievements of the old guards over the last few years. Where were you when women are abused and battered in their homes? Where were you when women are denied equal medical benefits? Where were you??? Crowd chanted “Where were you??”

3.45pm: I am Irene Ng, a Christian and I do not support the new exco. Josie said she wanted to help women tide over this economic downturn, but the first thing she did as Aware president is to fire the center’s manager, a woman!

3.45pm: I am a new member and I would like to highlight to you that you have not heard from the new members because the mikes are off. If you know the Singapore pledge…to build a democratic society built on justic and equality..where is the equality when you deliberately left out exco members from the old guards from your meeting, one more point, congratulations on the increase in your membership, but it is not because of you guys, but because of the old guards of aware who built it up all these years. I would remain as a member if the old guards returned (crowd went into frenzy).

3.41pm: Josie Lau invited legal counsel yet again to explain about the sacking of the subcommittees.

3.40pm: Braema Mathi speaking. I struggle over what is your (Josie) character….,but today is even more disappointing. We have written to the members of the exco, can we have a civil discussion on how to run this meeting and today we are being treated like children (crowd stand up and wave!!!) On that alone, 1 100% convinced that you are not the right representative for this association.

3.35pm: Dana Lam speaking. She said Josie’s actions and words during the last 2 weeks have shown she is not a suitable leader for Aware, crowd burst into applause. Dana castigates Josie for dismissing long-serving staff and volunteers of AWARE and paid for sophisticated CCTV for the center for a woman center which is meant to be a safe place for women. This act of yours alone shows that you are in the wrong seat for our association (crowd erupted into applause). I propose now…I support the vote of non-confidence.

3.30pm: Voting going to commence soon, instructions being given to members.

3.25pm: Haji Mohamad, a practising lawyer stands up to rebut legal counsel’s opinion that no-confidence motion has no legal binding under the Aware constitution.

3.21pm: Legal counsel speaking now to clarify certain matters.

3.20pm: ?Constance called for vote of no confidence in the exco, too far to see face clearly, crowd stood up and applauded, think about 60% of the crowd. Josie ignored demands and moved on to list the agenda.

3.15pm: Josie showing membership statistics, AGM in 2008 shows AWARE is losing membership of younger women, since the media publicity, there is a surge in membership to over 3,000 as of yesterday.

3.10pm: Josie talking about the controversial CSE, claimed she will be talking to MOE shorting about it.

3.04pm: Josie to crowd: “NO DISRUPTION, SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!” crowd went beserk!!! “OUT! OUT! OUT!” Josie apologized for her “outburst”, more boos from the crowd.

3.01pm: Josie still continuing, the crowd is getting agitated and restless. Josie talked about her plans for AWARE and the history of AWARE over the years. Josie stopped by Constance?, “Sorry Josie, you are over your 3 minutes”, crowd cheering!!

3.00pm: Josie finally began her President’s address, essentially what she said in the media on how she came to become the President because Nazar resigned halfway and nobody wants to take up the position. She reminded audience that her exco is legally elected and is based on nomination and proper electoral process not on any religion. (somebody shouted from the crowd, can’t hear what). “I would like to state categorically that COOS is not INVOVLED” (boos from crowd)

2.59pm: Josie asked security to remove those who are jeering!!! What a ***!!!!

2.58pm: T3 sitting in middle of crowd, I think it’s 50 - 50 now.

2.57pm: Josie Lau’s speech kept getting interrupted by the crowd who demanded the mike to be turned on and questions allowed to the floor. Josie Lau asked legal counsel to ‘advise’ again

2.55pm: can’t hear clearly, security not allowed me to go nearer, any ladies in the first few row??

2.53pm: security ignore Josie, audience ignore Josie, continued CLAPPING !!!

2.51pm: Josie: “I am the President and I preside over the meeting!!! SIT DOWN!!! Security, please escort anybody disrupting the meeting OUT NOW!!!”

2.50pm: For a second time, Josie Lau called on the security to stop unruly behavior. Crowd now shouting “turn on the mike”!!! Maureen Ong - “Please escort anybody caught making noise OUT!!! Security PLEASE NOW immediately!!”

2.47pm: Legal counsel asked crowd to give Josie Lau opportunity to address the members.

2.45pm: Josie Lau clarifying - “I join AWARE because I am interested in women issues, education and gender equality. I was keen to join as EXCO member, unfortunately on April 8, Ms Nazar resigned…Crowd keep shouting, she stopped.

2.43pm: a new guard supporter speaks, somebody from the crowd ask her to SHUT UP!! OMG, when did Singaporean women become so politically active??

2.40pm: Josie cut short her President’s speech, (damned malu), legal counsel speaking now.

2.38pm: Now President’s Address: ‘never expect such a huge turnout, AGM in 2006 atended by only 30 members, today we have over 2,000 people. Thanks for registration to support AWARE. Crowd is shouting, interrupting Josie…ORDER PLEASE!! Let me get past with my president’s speech. Crowd won’t allow, keep interfering.

2.37pm: Josie Lau introduces herself, round of BOOOOO goes from the crowd!!!

2.36pm: Constance Singam fired the first question - why seats allocated for associate members, crowd erupted into a frenzy, CLAP……..!!! The atmosphere is ELECTRIFYING!!

2.35pm: The battle begins!! Many qauestions being fielded at the same time, macham cat-fight! Josie Lau getting irriated, crowd is SHOUTING!!! Josie Lau called security to step in…HUSH..

2.35pm: the new exco arrived, EGM started proper, no flash photography or video recording, voting via secret ballot, Rajah and Tan to present point ?3 over. Josie Lau as Chairwoman of the EGM shall preside over the entire meeting. Each individual is only allowed to ask one question, please observe meeting etiquette, do not use crude language.

2.30pm: Our server is getting loaded, may crash later, for those of you with twitter account, follow us at http://www.twitter.com/wayangparty.

2.25pm: You are tuning in to The Wayang Party, Singapore’s No 1 socio-political blog. The queue is getting longer. For those of you who wants to support the old guard, registration is still ON, go to level 4 outside exhibition hall 402 and ask for the counter.

2.20pm: video-recording not permited, DO NOT FILM secretly, we will not be responsible for any mishaps, change to Plan 3 as outlined.

2.15pm: damned, security confiscate my videocam, cannot take videos lah, shld check it out earlier, there goes my $200.

2.12pm: ladies, are you online, over, tell admin your locations now.

2.11pm: Latest announcment - meeting ‘delayed’ as there are still many people outside, roger over.

2.10pm: T4 in already, guys can skip the main queue, go straight to level 4 to register as associate members.

2.00pm: WHAT THE……..The BIGGEST congregation of Singapore women, beats even the big Singapore sale, truly AMAZING!! Since when did our ladies become so siao ON???

1.45pm: sector 2 still at level 3 queue, may miss 1st part, sector 1 in ard?

1.35pm: all sectors take note, no obligation to provide particulars when asked, just smile and keep quiet when probed.

1.30pm: somebody get hold of the bus-driver and company, documentary proof who pay for the buses, $50 for the invoice.

1.25pm: tape conversation to prove red shirts from COOS, $25 per mp3 clip.

1.20pm: anybody out there take a photo of the red shirts bus number, will pay $10 per photo.

1.1opm: the red shirts are arriving by busloads, was going to take a pic when stopped, wtf.Q!

12.55PM: the queue too long, now at level 3, don’t think they will be able to register all by 2pm.

12.45pm: I’m leaving, it will be a whitewash…..

12.25pm: the registration is too slow, too many people crowding.

12.20pm: admin: the server is very slow….please rectify it, cannot log in at all.

12.10pm: Somebody should come and see this man, how can the old guards win, impossible lah! better pack up and balek kampung.

12.05pm: No red-shirts want to be interviewed, under instruction not to talk to media.

12.00pm: WOW, what an atmosphere!! The entire place is swarmed with white and red shirts….seemed like got a bit more red shirts.

11.50pm: Readers are welcome to join us by posting comments here about the event.

11.40pm: Registration commences earlier, more than 500 people now…the sever is very slow, please do something about it.

11.30am: hey boss, the network is not good here, can’t log in after a few tries, will have to conserve battery.

11.15am: AWARE members who are attending the EGM and wishes to contribute to this field report, please email us at wayangparty@hotmail.com for your account name and password. For new members who have not been in touch with us before, you will need to furnish us with proof of your membership. Roger over.11am: Nothing unusual about Suntec today, the crowd is slightly lesser than normal though, will go for a quick bite first.

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