In what has been described as "nothing short of a leadership grab," a group of new members challenged and eventually won nine out of 12 executive committee spots at the recent annual general meeting of Singapore's main women's advocacy group, Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE).
It was reported that barely a week into her new term and making her first statement as the new president, Claire Nazar - an older member nominated by outgoing Aware chief Constance Singam - quit suddenly this week.
Longtime members were quoted as saying that they were shocked by the turn of events when veterans were challenged and defeated by wide margins. Former president Tan Joo Hymn told the paper that 80 of the 102 who turned up were new members who joined between January and March this year.
Attempts to have the new members state their position on several issues during the meeting were unsuccessful.
The paper further highlighted that some members of the new committee and outspoken members from the floor during the meeting have written to The Straits Times Forum Page to oppose the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises sexual relations between men.
One member who identified herself as Angela Thiang said questions about the new office bearers' religion and their stand on homosexuality were not relevant.
AWARE was one of a number of non-governmental groups in Singapore alongside Action for AIDS, Free Community Church and People Like Us which have called for both Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code to be repealed completely in 2007. Former president Tan was also one of the three main signatories of the parliamentary petition along with human rights laywer George Hwang and Fridae CEO Dr Stuart Koe.
Thiang and another member Dr Alan Chin who was present at the AGM both wrote to the same newspaper between August and October 2007 cautioning against the risks of promoting the homosexual lifestyle. Blogger Alex Au wrote on Yawningbread last year that Thiang is a lawyer working in TSMC Law Corporation which is headed by Nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li-Ann's mother, Thio Su-mien.
The report also identified New honorary secretary Jenica Chua Chor Ping who had written to the paper on Oct 17, 2007 saying that 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.
A week later, she wrote a second letter taking issue with a Straits Times report which said NMP Thio Li-Ann had been 'visibly distraught' when she opposed Siew's petition vigorously. Instead, Chua said that Thio had dealt with several points succinctly, with humour and passion.
Forum letter excerpts:
"I feel that not enough has been done to warn our youth that leading a 'gay lifestyle' is not cool. On the contrary, it is very unhealthy. There is a very high risk of contracting not only HIV but also a slew of other sexually transmitted diseases." - Beware the high-risk 'gay lifestyle', Dr Alan Chin Yew Liang
"Attempts had been made to extend such special rights, to the point of banning religious texts like the Quran and Bible as 'hate literature' for 'incit(ing) hatred against sexual minorities' because these texts categorically reject homosexual behaviour… While a group of people may be a numerical minority as a social fact, that cannot be the sole or conclusive criterion for conferring legal recognition as a minority at law, so as to merit the enjoyment of additional protection or privileges." - Beware loose use of term 'sexual minorities', Angela Thiang Pei Yun (Ms)
"While he is free to present his personal views on any issue, Mr Siew has overstepped the boundary as an NMP when he chose to represent the homosexual interest group… He should not adulterate the NMP role further by becoming the proxy representative of the homosexual interest group." - NMP overstepped role in championing gay cause, Jenica Chua Chor Ping