Letter from Monica Wong
I am dismayed to read that Ms Josie Lau is facing such a difficult time after picking up the baton as the new president of Aware. Death threats towards her and her family are an act of cowardice.
I sympathize with the “old guards” who were ousted unexpectedly, but there is nothing wrong with the manner in which the new Exco took over control of the organization. It was entirely lawful. The “old guards” claim that they were too trusting, but why not see it as complacency?
To allow membership to drop to incredibly low levels whilst still believing that they were doing a fine job and staying relevant to society is dangerous for any organization. The fact remains that they had promoted films and put together events which did not sit well with the majority.
Complaining about the lawful replacement of the old Exco as though they had moral authority never to be ousted because of past achievements shows a lack of respect for due process. To the “old guards” I say - serve your cause well and earn the right to stay.
The “old guards” viewed the replacement of the Exco as a “seizure of power”. Obviously, they too see that the new Exco are a group with the “power” to speak up and change things. I recall that in my early 20s, Aware was aggressive and united in championing women’s issues that were reflective of the needs of women in those times - equality in the workplace and in marriage, more female students in the NUS Medicine faculty.
I hope that the new Aware can continue playing that role for Singaporean women today. That many new Exco members belong to the same church in Singapore is not an issue if the values promoted are merely reflective of those in a conservative and pro-family Asian society. In fact, I applaud Ms Josie Lau for being willing to stand for leadership despite the views of her employers as it is first and foremost a demonstration of her commitment to serving Aware's cause.
Let us not forget that there is a long road ahead.There are far more pressing challenges that require strong representation than the rights or feelings of homosexuals or having a man speak up on the affairs of women. Some examples are spousal violence, ex-husbands who repeatedly default on maintenance payments, more protection in the workplace for pregnant mothers, increasing the birthrate in Singapore and promoting strong and healthy marriages.
Precisely because of the strength of Aware in the last 25 years, there is a need to consolidate efforts to deal with these issues and not simply urge the new Exco to set up a new, parallel organization. Aware belongs not to the few who had contributed in the past, but to the women of Singapore.
The “old guards” should focus on the wood in the interest of the Aware's original motivations, and not miss them for the trees of personal vendetta. If they do a good job, nothing will stop them from winning the coveted seats in the next AGM. Similarly, if the new Exco does not perform its role well, the carpet will be pulled from under their feet.
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