AWARE president gives first media interview since appointment

By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 18 April 2009 2140 hrs

SINGAPORE: President for women's advocacy group, AWARE, said the organisation has lost its focus and has become too diversified.

In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia's Talking Point on Saturday, the recently appointed president, Josie Lau, spoke on why she chose to run for her post.

"I was the last woman standing. And I felt that I had to pick up the baton, to run and to continue to lead this organisation that has been marred in controversies in the last one, two weeks," she said.

Without mincing her words, she said the group has lost its focus.

"What the new committee wants to do is that, like any good corporation, if you've diversified too much, consolidate. And as with any new committee, we know that resources are always limited, let's take a look and review what's done in the past that's good, let's keep (that), and what new ideas we have to bring on," said Ms Lau.

She stressed that while members may focus on different things, at the end of the day, they are all fighting a common cause.

Over the past three weeks, the saga between the new and the old guard has escalated into a war of words, with each side accusing the other of harbouring hidden agendas.

So the question everyone is asking is whether the two sides are able to reconcile their differences and move forward.

Ms Lau said that is one of the first tasks she is planning to work on. She wants to create an environment where all members can disagree in an agreeable manner.

But this could be easier said than done.

Dana Lam, former AWARE president, said: "What are we supposed to reconcile if we don't know what you're about? AWARE is not about whether we are for or against Christianity; AWARE is not about whether we are for or against homosexuality."

Veteran members are also concerned that the current saga may have damaged the group's reputation.

Old and new members have petitioned for an extraordinary general meeting to call for a vote of no-confidence in the new exco. This will be held on May 2.

Channel NewsAsia viewers can catch the full interview with Josie Lau on Talking Point this Sunday at 10:10pm.

- CNA/so

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