Aware Ambushed & they had no clue

[scroobal]

Finally the dumb got dumber.

Truly a useless bunch and they had no clue and not surprising. True to the quality that they hold, the President quit rather than fight.

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Ah I was wondering when someone was going to talk about this power grab kerfuffle amongst the local X chromos...Harry must be tickled pink by this oldest trick in the book...my poor dear old Claire must have got a rude shock hence her quickie resignation after a week, new group probably ganged up against her

[nextinfidel]

whats going on here? any official article?

[scroobal]

Originally Posted by nextinfidel

whats going on here? any official article?

Apr 10, 2009
Unknowns knock out veterans at Aware polls: Caught off-guard by big turnout, longtime members lose to fresh faces

Singaopre's best-known women's group, the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), has seen a dramatic changing of the guard - which some members are describing as nothing short of a leadership grab.

When Aware held its annual general meeting on March 28, everyone expected the usual: No more than 30 or 40 members would turn up at its Dover Crescent centre, and a prepared slate of candidates would be voted into office easily.

Instead, more than 100 people came, the majority of whom had joined Aware only in recent months.

And when the election of office bearers began, almost every position was challenged by new faces, who won by wide majorities.

In the end, nine out of 12 executive committee spots went to the newcomers.

One older member who won without a contest was Mrs Claire Nazar, a former corporate counsel nominated to be president by outgoing Aware chief Constance Singam.

But barely a week into her new term, and before making her first statement as president, Mrs Nazar quit suddenly this week.

She confirmed that she had resigned, but declined to say any more when reached by The Straits Times.

It is not known who will now become president.

Longtime members took two other positions: Chew I-Jin as assistant honorary treasurer and Caris Lim Chai Leng was elected a committee member.

The election results have left longtime Aware members in shock.

Former president Tan Joo Hymn, 38, told The Straits Times the big turnout at the AGM surprised her.

'I arrived at the meeting late and found out that I was No. 100 on the attendance list. I've been a member for 10 years, and never before has there been such a turnout,' said the former lawyer who is now a full-time mother.

Another former president, writer Dana Lam, 57, said: 'There were many faces I had not seen before, and I found that very strange.

'In previous years, even if there were new members, they would be known to one or more of the older members.'

The first indication that something was afoot came when Ms Chew, an Aware veteran, was challenged and defeated handsomely by new member Charlotte Wong Hock Soon for the post of vice-president.

Ms Chew was later elected unopposed as assistant honorary treasurer.

'It was alarming,' said Ms Lam. 'How could a new member who had just joined for a couple of months, and whom we knew nothing about, be picked over someone who has been with Aware for more than 15 years?'

Some of the older members immediately began checking the attendance list.

Ms Tan said: 'We found that about 80 of the 102 who turned up were new members who joined between January and March this year.'

Aware, a feminist group that has prided itself on being 'all inclusive', has never vetted the people who apply to be members.

Men can join too, as associate members.

As it dawned on them that a leadership grab was imminent, some older members at the AGM tried asking the newcomers who they were, what they stood for, and why they wanted to be in charge.

They got only the briefest answers, they said.

Ms Lam said she tried suggesting that new members serve a stint on Aware's various sub-committees before standing for election to leadership positions.

But such suggestions went unheeded as the election proceeded, with more newcomers winning executive committee positions by landslide margins.

Ironically, the old guard at Aware had been working towards changing their Constitution to make it a rule that only those who have been members for at least a year would be eligible to join the ex-co.

There is currently no rule to bar a brand new member from seeking office, and that was what happened at the AGM.

Ms Tan said: 'We were simply outnumbered. Technically, they got in legitimately.'

She added that the way the election proceeded was so unusual, it was hard to imagine that the takeover was not a planned effort.

'It could not be pure coincidence,' she said.

But little is known of Aware's new leaders, aside from the fact that they include women from the corporate sector, lawyers, company directors and academics.

Older members said the newcomers spoke well but would not elaborate on their plans for Aware.

'When asked if they believed in equality, they kept repeating they were there to support women and to make sure they got ahead and got all the opportunities given to them,' Ms Lam said.

Older members were keen to know if the newcomers shared Aware's vision and values, including equality for all regardless of race, religion or sexuality.

But one outspoken new member from the floor, who identified herself as Angela Thiang, said questions about the new office bearers' religion and their stand on homosexuality were not relevant.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Braema Mathi, a two-term president of Aware, told The Straits Times that she, like many other members, was concerned.

'If you are keen to serve, you don't challenge every position. We do not know who they are,' said the former journalist who is now in Bangkok doing consultancy work for international women's group Unifem.

'It is very troubling, more so because I've heard the new president has resigned.'

Almost a fortnight into their new roles, the new leaders of Aware were not entertaining calls from the media this week.

New honorary secretary Jenica Chua Chor Ping told The Straits Times a press release would be issued 'in a few days' and added that until then, the committee would not answer any questions.

A check showed that some of those at the AGM and on the new committee have appeared in The Straits Times Forum Page.

Ms Chua, Ms Thiang and Dr Alan Chin, a male member of Aware who attended the AGM and supported the newcomers, all wrote letters to this newspaper between August and October 2007.

In a letter on Oct 17 that year, Ms Chua said NMP Siew Kum Hong had overstepped his non-partisan role and advanced the homosexual cause by tabling a petition in Parliament to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises homosexual sex between consenting men.

In another letter on Oct 25, she took issue with a Straits Times report which said NMP Thio Li-Ann had been 'visibly distraught' when she opposed Mr Siew's petition vigorously.

Ms Chua said Ms Thio had dealt with several points succinctly, with humour and passion.

Dr Chin and Ms Thiang both wrote letters to caution against the risks of promoting the homosexual lifestyle.

Meanwhile, news of Aware's AGM has spread among older members who did not attend the meeting, as well as civil society groups.

The most frequently-asked questions: Who are the new women in charge, why do they want the leadership, and what are their plans for Aware?

Ms Mathi said: 'The building of an institution takes many years; building its value system is even harder.

'Why can't they come in and be part of the process, and build it together and in a more evolutionary manner? That way, the comfort level will be high for everyone.'

Former newspaper editor and media consultant Peter Lim, a longtime associate member of Aware, said he was very surprised to learn what had taken place.

Asked why he thought a group of newcomers would want to take control, he said he did not know if it was an orchestrated effort.

But he thought Aware would be attractive to those seeking to be in charge of an established institution. Setting up a new outfit would take too much time and trouble.

'Aware has built up its credentials over the years and achieved more than a few things,' he said.

Three former Aware presidents - Ms Claire Chiang, Dr Kanwaljit Soin and Ms Mathi - have served as NMPs.

'Aware is a brand name and most people regard it as the leading voice of the feminists and modern women in Singapore,' said Mr Lim.

Reported by Wong Kim Hoh, Straits Times.

[scroobal]

Though I felt that Constance Singam, Kanwaljit Soin, Braema Mathi etc have done well as individuals representing Aware on some of the issues, Aware itself did not move forward.

The anti-gay gang should have the decency to have formed their own group and carry out their agenda rather than hijack an organisation that is not releated to the gay issue in the main. Alan Chin must be laughing for hijacking an women's organisation. They probably contemplated the SPCA but must have found Deidre Moss a handful.

I am sure, next year's AGM will see a complete return and I won't be surprised that a record numbers of new members many of whom are well known personalities joining for the first time. This episode might be the catalyst that AWARE to bring Singaporean women together and a good kickstart to their movement.

[bellepepper02]

Originally Posted by scroobal

Though I felt that Constance Singam, Kanwaljit Soin, Braema Mathi etc have done well as individuals representing Aware on some of the issues, Aware itself did not move forward.

The anti-gay gang should have the decency to have formed their own group and carry out their agenda rather than hijack an organisation that is not releated to the gay issue in the main. Alan Chin must be laughing for hijacking an women's organisation. They probably contemplated the SPCA but must have found Deidre Moss a handful.

I am sure, next year's AGM will see a complete return and I won't be surprised that a record numbers of new members many of whom are well known personalities joining for the first time. This episode might be the catalyst that AWARE to bring Singaporean women together and a good kickstart to their movement.

I agree with your take on this entirely, especially your last para. People here who see AWARE as a PAP tool are entirely and ridiculously off the mark. Don't they remember how Kanwaljit Soin was humiliated in Parliament when she tabled the Family Violence Bill? There has not been a single woman from AWARE who has been co-opted into the ruling party, so obviously the association is not a path to power.

As to those who laugh at it for being "unaware" about the takeover, I guess this only shows that the women at AWARE are not your Machiavellian-type characters--which gives the lie to the usual stereotype of feminists as being power-hungry, militant ball crushers, doesn't it?

Those who have now taken it over are indeed the militant ones, and let's not make the mistake that they are feminists. Notice how they refused to directly answer the question of whether they stood for equal rights? They are patriarchal women serving the christian patriarchy, and these women are the ones who fit all the stereotypical epithets usually and terribly mistakenly hurled at feminists.

[scroobal]

Originally Posted by Porfirio Rubirosa

Ah I was wondering when someone was going to talk about this power grab kerfuffle amongst the local X chromos...Harry must be tickled pink by this oldest trick in the book...my poor dear old Claire must have got a rude shock hence her quickie resignation after a week, new group probably ganged up against her

Looks to me a pretty rude bunch for not answering any questions when they took over such an organisation. Its not that they took over the local tai chi class. Obviously they have not thought through as their interest and AWARE role is out of kilter not matter how they they attempt to put square pegs in round holes.

No class and no manners seems to be slogan.

[Trout]

Originally Posted by scroobal

Looks to me a pretty rude bunch for not answering any questions when they took over such an organisation. Its not that they took over the local tai chi class. Obviously they have not thought through as their interest and AWARE role is out of kilter not matter how they they attempt to put square pegs in round holes.

No class and no manners seems to be slogan.

They probably hijacked their war-chest of funds too, given that 9/12 of the Exco was booted out. Any idea how much $$ did AWARE have before the hijack? Would be interesting...

Cheers,
Trout

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Hehehe...nice one Bro...but AWARE does seem to have the pull of say NCC, CHC or the likes of Prince, Kong Hee and the fallen Durai or Goh Kah Heng

Originally Posted by Trout

They probably hijacked their war-chest of funds too, given that 9/12 of the Exco was booted out. Any idea how much $$ did AWARE have before the hijack? Would be interesting...

Cheers,
Trout

[shOUTloud]

Originally Posted by Trout

They probably hijacked their war-chest of funds too, given that 9/12 of the Exco was booted out. Any idea how much $$ did AWARE have before the hijack? Would be interesting...

Cheers,
Trout

I am not sure it is about $$. I recognised some of the new red guards. They are not poor. I believe it is more than that. Something major must be afoot for them to take over an institution such as AWARE in this manner. They might be poring over the records of AWARE as we are surfing the net now.

[scroobal]

Originally Posted by Trout

They probably hijacked their war-chest of funds too, given that 9/12 of the Exco was booted out. Any idea how much $$ did AWARE have before the hijack? Would be interesting...

Cheers,
Trout

I don't the funds are much. They were never big on numbers but more on raising profile and they did have a stage.

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

I guess the upstarts began off with a putsch surpise attack strategy with no follow up. Can't wait to see the next act

Originally Posted by scroobal

Looks to me a pretty rude bunch for not answering any questions when they took over such an organisation. Its not that they took over the local tai chi class. Obviously they have not thought through as their interest and AWARE role is out of kilter not matter how they they attempt to put square pegs in round holes.

No class and no manners seems to be slogan.

[yellow_people]

AWARE was caught UNAWARE.

The group was there for the picking and was owned. It was a coup. Serves LKY's ball lickers right. A change for the better I would say.

[SneeringTree]

Originally Posted by scroobal

Finally the dumb got dumber.

Truly a useless bunch and they had no clue and not surprising. True to the quality that they hold, the President quit rather than fight.

I am utterly shocked. AWARE at best can be called gay-inclusive (if even that!), it has never ever been a group that makes a strong position on the gay issue. The closest it ever got to being gay friendly was when one of the ex-President of AWARE has a gay son.

Yet, the coup was staged by a whole bunch of known anti-gay Christians. These people always like to accuse of anyone who empathise with homosexuals of having a gay agenda. Looks like they are the ones who have an agenda!

You are right, they should have the decency to launch their agenda via a new organization or hijack other Christian fundie organizations (e.g. Focus on the Family).

[scroobal]

Originally Posted by SneeringTree

I am utterly shocked. AWARE at best can be called gay-inclusive (if even that!), it has never ever been a group that makes a strong position on the gay issue. The closest it ever got to being gay friendly was when one of the ex-President of AWARE has a gay son.

Yet, the coup was staged by a whole bunch of known anti-gay Christians. These people always like to accuse of anyone who empathise with homosexuals of having a gay agenda. Looks like they are the ones who have an agenda!

You are right, they should have the decency to launch their agenda via a new organization or hijack other Christian fundie organizations (e.g. Focus on the Family).

Can't wait for developments from this group. They might even vote Alan Chin as Pseudo Women of the Year. I wonder what Alan Chin response going to be when associates and friends ask him why choose AWARE to push to the anti-gay drum. Would love to see his face when he attempts a reply.