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Teo Wan Gek
LIVE: Aware showdown at Suntec
May 02, 2009 Saturday, 04:09 PM
Teo Wan Gek and Elizabeth Soh report LIVE from the Aware EGM at Suntec City.
9.14pm: Ms Josie Lau comes on stage to make a statement. "We have decided to graciously step down. We wish Aware all the best." 9.05pm: Ex-Aware president Dana Lam is nominated new President, Chew I Jin is vice-president, honorary secretary is Yap Chang Wi, Assistant Honorary Secretary is Corrina Lim, honorary treasurer is Tan Ju Hin, and Assistant treasurer is Lim Xiaoyun. 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. 8.15pm: 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. 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. 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. Tags: aware, saga 
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The whole AWARE saga and following commentaries from many quarters have focused superficially on proceedings, and the “rights” or “wrongs” of the “New ExCo” and/or “New New Exco”.
The facts on the CSE have now been made public. I wonder how many of those supporters of the “New New Exco” (Dana Lam and team) actually know what they were fighting for..? How many are sensible parents, who may now be regretting for putting their vote behind the “Old Guard”…? It would be interesting to know how the vote would have turned out, if the CSE fiasco was made public earlier…
This leads to the question of MOE’s role in this whole fiasco and the AWARE saga… but that is another topic which perhaps ST's reporters, with all of their objective eloquence, can better analyze and comment on.
Once upon a time, a nice woman invited a friend to her house and introduced her friend as a very capable lady to her husband and children.
The friend within a short frame of time claimed to be the master of her house and chased that woman out of her very own house.
The friend changed the lock of that woman’s house, spoke to people that the woman was chased out coz of this and that that made that woman unfit to be a wife and mother, fired all the woman’s servants, took over that woman’s household finance and spent willfully, etc.
That woman sought justice in front of a crowd.
It is ridiculous for the people to expect that woman to still maintain her cool head and to still try to reason and talk senses with her friend under that type of circumstances.
That woman afterall, is not God!
I refer to the report by Teo Wen Gek and Elizabeth Soh on the events of 2 may at suntec. It is very unfortunate that the report does not convey a balanced account of events that took place. The glaring omission of:-1. the crowd behaviour from the old guards camp, 2. comments made by supporters of Josie Lau's team,; 3. why security personnel had to be called and if these unruly peoplee were actually removed from the mtg.. Their selective reporting makes the new exco look unreasonable, using high-handed tactics and obnoxious. Anyone who was at the egm will agree that the crowd was, as aptly put, "unruly", rude., and raucous, pushing their own agenda and not letting alternative opinions be heard. Why did they not highlight the way some old exco members hijacked the floor repeatedly flouting all rules at the meeting? Why didn't they comment on the fact that anytime anyone said anything in support of the new guards, they were jeered and booed. why did they not state that Thio Su Mien was given the right to reply to accusations hurled at her but her attempt was drowned by the emotional chants and jeers from the crowd.
Even if the report was to be a summary of events, it still needs to be balanced.
Reporters are humans after-all, and to ask them to suppress their personal biases, opinions or ideals on the job, may be asking too much for some? Perhaps ST should vet their inclinationa before sending them off to file a report . This includes the TV reporter who had let her facial expression and intonation reveal her personal inclinations... Sad episode for journalism.....
When I first read about the Aware sage, I was disgusted with the "New guards" for being so aggressive although I did wonder what could have prompted them to carry out a takeover. Then when I learnt about the Aware sex education program, I was more disgusted with the old guards for not being vigilant enough about their programs and for perpuating their idea of "inclusiveness" despite protests from parents. As the days went on, I was also unhappy with the new exco for not being communicative enough about their intentions. However, nothing could beat the sense of disappointment and disgust when I read about how the old guards and their supporters behave at the EGM. Certainly, they have also not shown their gracious side as well with the jeering, the bullying and aggressiveness. If I were to vote, I'll give a vote of NO confidence for BOTH the old guards and the new guards. Neither group is deserving to lead AWARE at all. The good that came out of it? I am definitely much more aware of the sex education programs that my kids are subjected to and I know now that I have the right to opt them out of the program if I want to and I am certainly glad that the Ministry is looking into such programs.
Respect your elders or lau cha boa mentor, they all forgot about connecting with the ground people. Looks like they likely all work for very big companies (banks, uni etc) and first sign of dissent, call in the big expensive experts lawyers, auditors without concern for running up all the costs.
Great case of screw up in miscommunication. So heavy handed.
So maybe they can also claim credit for increasing membership by 10 times by spending $90K, raised $120K. Still have spare change $30K for another fight.
What a sorry sight for both sides. A lot of walking wounded to clean up. Back to the boring news. Sigh
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