Aware chief: Sub-com head was not sacked

Straits Times Forum letter by Ms Josie Lau, April 24, 2009 Friday

I REFER to last Saturday's report, 'Sacked by a terse e-mail'. Ms Braema Mathi was not sacked as chairman of Aware's Cedaw sub-committee by e-mail or by any other means. Her appointment simply expired.

Under Aware's Constitution, the appointment and authority of each sub-committee chairman derive from the executive committee (exco). Thus, when the term of office of each exco expires, the appointment of each sub-committee chairman also lapses at the same time.

At the end of her term, the chairman of each sub-committee is obliged to account for the work accomplished during the last 12 months through the annual report presented at each annual general meeting (AGM).

The new exco considers the reports from each sub-committee and has the option to re-appoint the chairman for another term of 12 months.

At this year's AGM on March 28, then president Constance Singam informed the AGM that Ms Mathi would present her work in the form of a completed draft shadow report at the end of March.

As of Wednesday, no report has been given to us and neither have we seen a working draft.

We hope that this letter will present the facts as to what actually happened.

Josie Lau 
President of Aware

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