 | | RUBBISH RETREAT: After the vote of no confidence was passed against them, the new guard retreated to a cargo loading area to discuss their options. -- PICTURE: NG TZE YONG, KELVIN CHNG and NG XI JIE | AT a hidden spot of Suntec City, the Feminist Mentor led her flock into a cargo lift. The dirt-caked metal grill doors rumbled shut as a red siren sounded, and the women disappeared. For a while, it seemed that was how the Aware saga would end. Minutes earlier, the new exco had been handed a no-confidence vote. It was then given an ultimatum: Quit in five minutes. But for almost half an hour, the new exco was nowhere to be seen. And as reporters waited outside the cargo lift where they disappeared into, amid the forklifts, humming of machinery and faint smell of trash, the loud cheers of a crowd baying for blood floated in from the doorway leading to Hall 402. For a while, it seemed they had left for good - as quietly as they had arrived. In a night of high drama, this was the pivotal scene few saw. They saw the taunts, the cheers, the shouting matches played out over microphones and giant speakers. Some had queued for four hours to get in. The women came - in matronly frocks and sultry black numbers, in tattoos and permed hair. Inside the sprawling hall, the women took the nice green seats down the middle. The men, who had no voting rights, were relegated to one side on white plastic chairs. 'Wah, this is like a Muslim event man... girls one side and boys one side!' one usher quipped. As soothing lounge music played, the audience sat awkwardly in their chairs, not sure if the one they're brushing elbows with was a friend or enemy. Amid the sea of women, a shiny bald head stood out. 'Mr Siew Kum Hong (the Nominated Member of Parliament), can we request that you move to the men's section,' said president Josie Lau, as she opened the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Her request was immediately greeted by loud boos and taunts. A grim-faced aunty clapped her hands furiously, trying to drown out the nubile young lass beside her waving a stalk of sunflower like a flag. Ms Lau tried to control the commotion, shouting into the microphone repeatedly: 'Quiet, please!'. The audience broke into boisterous chants instead. The old guard explained that Mr Siew was there as a legal advisor to them, but the new exco wouldn't budge. 'There is nothing in the constitution that designates seats,' protested a member of the old guard. Mr Siew was finally allowed to stay. The crowd almost brought the house down. It was Old Guard 1, New Guard 0. The opening salvo set the tone for the EGM, with one side booing when the other side cheered. There was hooting, screaming and taunts bordering on racial slurs and religious insults. The first half hour went past like this, with angry shrill voices blasting from the speakers. 'Escort them out!' shouted Ms Lau, referring to the hecklers. In front of the angry crowd, the Aetos auxiliary policemen moved half-heartedly, unsure of who to obey. Amid the impasse, an elderly usher, already bored, made a shadow of a dog on one of the projector screens and giggled to himself. When a relative calm finally settled, Ms Lau proceeded with her speech. But its content, mostly a rehash of what she has already publicly said, got the impatient crowd riled up again. War of words 'Can you please listen? Can I say something? Can we move on? You are missing the point!' These were the most often-heard phrases amid the war of words. For the men in the hall, it must have seemed familiar. They took a back seat, making the occasional boo or cheer when it was safe to do so. But a few good men waded right in. 'I paid $40 to come here...' one man began, calling for calm. 'At an EGM, you follow the agenda strictly. We can debate until 10pm if you want. There are 3,000 of you here.' But his voice was lost in the chorus of women's fury. Another man put himself in the line of fire, pleading: 'Let's be sensible!' A woman jumped to her feet, crying out: 'Emotional is not irrational!' The liberals made their voice heard. It was harder to pick out the supporters of the new exco, who sat mostly silent, waiting for opportune times to clap furiously in support. As the hours went by, the EGM descended into an open mike night, with long lines forming at the microphones, each spouting their displeasure, at times rousing, at times poetic. Through it all, Ms Lau sat slouched on stage, her face radiating a zen peace. At the front rows, the old guard sat smugly with equally serene smiles. Through the war, a baby lay sound asleep in his mother's arms at the back of the hall, somehow oblivious to it all. A woman fished out a novel, Marley And Me, from her handbag, and was soon engrossed in it. In a less happy position was Mr Gregory Vijayendran, a partner of Rajah and Tann, legal advisor to Ms Lau's team. He sat at a table below the stage - just 2m from the angry women taking turns at the microphone - stoically, unblinkingly, his hands clasped in front of him, still as a statue. Nearly seven hours later, it all came to an end. And when it did, it was thankfully civil. You have been wonderful people, the old guard told the new exco. 'But you have five minutes (to step down).' Thank you, Ms Lau replied sweetly. And after a time-out with their mentor in the dump, they returned - and bowed out. REPORTS: NG TZE YONG, SHREE ANN MATHAVAN, BENSON ANG and PEARLY TAN
When Margie riled Sally A HEATED exchange broke out within the first hour when founding member and ex-vice president Margaret Thomas, 57, took the floor to speak, to respond to Ms Josie Lau. Ms Lau was defending her decision to be on Aware's committee, but Ms Thomas interjected: 'Point of order Josie, I'm sorry but you're over your three minutes.' A visibly-angry Sally Ang, the outgoing assistant honorary secretary, shouted: 'Shut up and sit down.' Ms Ang's outcry drew loud shouts of 'You shut up' from the audience. Many stood up in protest. There were also cries for Ms Ang to be escorted out. Ms Lau apologised. After more screaming from the audience, Ms Ang relented. She said: 'I offer my apology but I hope that everyone gives the president a chance to speak without being interrupted.' 'Don't harass me, I'm just a man' AMID the emotion and anger, there were moments of levity. One such moment was provided by 'concerned father' Marshall Lee. The father of three daughters began his turn on the floor by paying tribute to the previous exco's ex-president Constance Singam. He admired her for her smile and how nurturing she was, just like 'his own mother', he said. As the crowd turned restless and jeered him, he went on to say bizarrely: 'I'm only a man, not a woman. I'm just a man don't harass me.' Shortly after, one of the volunteers presented him with a sunflower, perhaps as a gesture before leading him off the floor. He then insisted on giving this same flower to Ms Singam, who accepted it after some persuasion. Red, white and new COLOUR-coded camps aren't confined to Thai politics. Yesterday at Suntec City, those at the EGM, too, showed their colours. The new guard wore red; those who supported the previous committee and old guard wore white. Before the meeting started, white shirts were seen at the escalators distributing We Are Aware packages which included a list stating why a no confidence vote should be carried. They also distributed sandwiches and bottled water to the crowds, some of whom had queued for over an hour for the EGM. During the meeting, the white shirts were more vocal, shouting in support whenever members of the old guard took to the mike. Supporters of the new guard showed support quietly, by clapping when their committee made a point they agreed with.
AT A GLANCE 300 Number of members before saga 3,000 Number of members after saga 65% Members voted against new exco 35% Members voted for the new exco | 
