This article appears of Malaysian Today on 23 May, after a state visit by the new PM Najib to Singapore. The article was written by RPK, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, famous blogger and online writer for MT. It is a very interesting read which may explain why Malaysia and Singapore has always had a thorny, testy, chilly and at times turbulent relationship.
Parts of the article are reproduced below:
Surely Dr Mahathir can’t agree to Najib giving in to Singapore’s demands like what is currently happening. Are we going to see Dr Mahathir going berserk like back in 2006 with all these concessions Najib is granting Singapore?
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
An old acquaintance of mine who was once quite senior in the Fisheries Department related this story, which he said stunned everybody in the room. The occasion was a briefing session and the man who was the target of the briefing was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the then Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
This government officer who was conducting the briefing tried to impress Dr Mahathir on what they were doing. He went into great detail talking about their plans and strategies and how things are going to improve once these plans and strategies are in place. And he concluded by assuring Dr Mahathir that it will work because this is exactly what Singapore is doing.
Dr Mahathir gave the briefing officer a long and hard stare and said, “Please never mention Singapore in front of me again. Don’t you know we are at war with Singapore?”
From that day on, word spread like wildfire that you must never, at all costs, mention Singapore in front of Dr Mahathir, unless it is in a negative light that is. To say that Malaysia too is doing such and such because Singapore is doing the same is to invite disaster and a dead-end career in the government.
We both had a good laugh and I never thought about this incident again until 2006, something like 30 years after I was first told the story about the briefing session. And 2006 was when I started my association with Dr Mahathir soon after the dialogue session that Malaysia Today organised at the Kelab Century Paradise in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur.
“Singapore is just a little red dot,” Dr Mahathir would tell all and sundry, sometimes to a crowd of 1,000 or more.
Why is Dr Mahathir so upset with Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi? Because Pak Lah tunduk (kow tow) to Singapore.
Why is Dr Mahathir so upset that his Crooked Bridge has been aborted, and at a price that is more costly than if they went ahead and built it on top of that? Because Singapore does not want it -- so, by aborting it, Malaysia is bowing to Singapore’s demands.
Why is Dr Mahathir so angry with Kalimullah (whom he calls Hindu God and Muslim Priest)? Because Kalimullah is a Singapore agent.
Why is Dr Mahathir so angry with Khairy Jamaluddin? Because Khairy works for Singapore and is being funded by that ‘little red dot’.
Anything and everything even remotely associated with Singapore is a no-no in Dr Mahathir’s books.
“Of course I can’t get along with Singapore,” laments Dr Mahathir. “I can’t go to Singapore and play golf with Singapore’s leaders and pat each other on the back like those in Pak Lah’s government.”
“Who cares if Singapore wants a new straight bridge to replace the Causeway or not. They can keep their half of the Causeway. We will demolish our half and build half a bridge. And if half a bridge is too short then we shall make it longer by building a crooked bridge.”
“Lee Kuan Yew told me that Goh Chok Tong is too sentimental. That’s why he does not want to see the Causeway demolished. So we will have to wait until Chok Tong retires and then, after he retires, we shall demolish the whole Causeway.”
“Malaysia fought hard to gain independence from Britain. We opposed the British and the British plan for a Malayan Union. However, after 50 years of Merdeka, we are still not independent. We still can’t decide what to do in our own country. Singapore tells us what we can do in our own country. So we are not really that independent after all.
”And it goes on and on -- Singapore this and Singapore that. It is all about Singapore. And all of Dr Mahathir’s unhappiness is because Singapore is the cause of everything that is wrong with this country and all his plans are being torpedoed because of Singapore.
We never thought Dr Mahathir would want Najib because of the ‘Singapore connection’. He is angry with Pak Lah, Kalimullah and Khairy because they are said to be tools or agents of Singapore. But then would this not also be so for Najib?
Tun Daim Zainuddin has personally told Dr Mahathir that Singapore possesses all the evidence that Najib, Razak Baginda and Altantuya met at the Oriental Hotel in Marina Square one year before she died. This means, with the evidence that Singapore possesses, they would be able to blackmail Najib. Surely Dr Mahathir would not want someone who can be blackmailed into doing Singapore’s bidding become the next prime minister knowing how he feels about Singapore and those perceived as under Singapore’s control?
Najib has just made a trip to Singapore and while in Singapore he announced that Malaysia agrees to build a third bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore. Third bridge? If there is going to be a third bridge then there would certainly be a second bridge. And we are no longer talking about crooked bridges as what Dr Mahathir wants. We are talking about straight bridges as what Singapore wants. And Najib also announced that the New Economic Policy would most likely be abolished as what Singapore would like to see.
Hmmm…this is interesting. Does Dr Mahathir know what Najib is doing? Surely Dr Mahathir can’t agree to Najib giving in to Singapore’s demands like what is currently happening. Are we going to see Dr Mahathir going berserk like back in 2006 with all these concessions Najib is granting Singapore?
Well, Dr Mahathir knows I support him in his move to oust Pak Lah. But I just can’t support him on the move to replace Pak Lah with Najib. My choice of successor was Tengku Razaleigh and I never hid that fact from Dr Mahathir. Probably the whole of Umno knows this as well. Anwar Ibrahim and the PKR people certainly do.
Of course, if Pakatan Rakyat forms the government, and Anwar Ibrahim becomes prime minister instead, that is also okay with me. But back in 2006 no one imagined that Pakatan Rakyat would ever be formed, let alone win five states and deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in parliament.
So the choice was either Tengku Razaleigh or Najib and I never dreamt that Dr Mahathir would choose Najib considering he is so pantang about Singapore and would never accept as prime minister someone whom Singapore can squeeze by the balls -- especially when this someone can be blackmailed about a very secret and sensitive meeting with a woman in the Oriental Hotel in Marina Square who is later found murdered.
The story was not substantiated in anyway. But as time pass, more stories will definitely surface on Mahathir's various attempts to squeeze and make thing difficult for Singapore as well as his utter disdain for anything Singapore
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
PM NAJIB STATE VISIT TO S'PORE
PM Najib Razak first official state visit to Singapore yesterday is heralded by news media as well of the government of Singapore as a new beginning; similar to that when the previous PM Badawi visited Singapore 5 years ago. Then PM Badawi wanted to put the thorny issues behind and work for better cooperation and relationship. I remembered he said to ‘start plucking the low hanging fruits first’ and then work on the more difficult issues. But Badawi was too consumed with domestic politics, he hardly had any time to warm up or sour ties with Singapore.
PM Najib visit was a carefully planned and orchestrated ‘wayang’. He was very polish in his speeches, articulate in interviews and his mannerisms relay his sincerity in casting away the turbulent ties with Singapore. He bravely pronounced that he will not be building the ‘crooked bridge’. This bridge was the brainchild and pet project of his mentor Mahathir. Instead he revealed he may build a third bridge in the eastern part of Singapore. What was assuring is that he will not implement any project until it is properly studied and agreed by both countries. This was unlike his predecessor Mahathir who would take unilateral decision in the name of sovereignty and superiority. Also for the first time the Point of Agreement signed in 1990 during Mahathir reign was brought up and both countries agree to revisit all the agreements. Another question asked about Mahathir opposition to Singaporeans in Iskandar was also tactfully addressed. All these acts are courageous as these will surely infuriate Mahathir and some quarters which are anti-Singapore.
My personal view is that Najib is a consummated and wise politician who wanted good relationship with his closest neighbour as the advantages and gains far outweigh the negatives. The thousands of jobs that Singapore provided Malaysians, the tourists’ dollars spent and the investment money Singapore invested. Perhaps his think tank must have briefed him that Malaysia is no more the hinterland of Singapore in this globalised world. The mutual dependence is now more balanced then before. Although Singapore needs clean and cheap water from Johore, it is no more at Malaysia mercy. For food, the republic has diversified its resources. So Malaysia doesn’t have the upper hand and that Singapore is a ‘parasite’ to Malaysia is purely an UMNO fallacy.
He and PM Lee sense that they do not carry any historical baggage that bogged down previous PMs. They have the opportunity to rewrite history. He does acknowledge many thorny and contentious issues are unresolved and deep rooted, but with political will, it can be overcome. He must have learned during Mahathir era, nothing was achieved through strong arm tactics or brinkmanship, something which Mahathir never hesitate to employ.
I watch his joint media conference and I was impressed by his articulate response as well as his sense of humour. So the ‘wayang’ was perfect and both the PM ‘waltzed’ away to a promising new era of Singapore Malaysia partnership. The Singapore press gave front page coverage, but the Malaysia press coverage was lukewarm. This underlines the difficulties facing the two countries. Najib may want to better relationship and cooperation, but what about UMNO members, civil services, Menteris Besars and all the anti-Singaporean lobbies?
After years of Singapore bashing perpetrated by Mahathir and the UMNO rightists, it will take a long time to change this anti-Singapore sentiment. Agreeing to Singapore is deeming by Mahathir as ‘kowtow to Singapore’. The ‘crooked bridge’ was an example of such emotional paranoia. Abandoning the bridge after Singapore disagreed was a sign of ‘losing to Singapore’. So by hook or by crook, a bridge must be build. Such mentality is now deeply entrenched especially among the Malay constituency. To change this mindset will require tremendous political will and magnanimity which Malaysians are still lacking. If not handle properly, it can bring about political suicide.
My view is that Najib will play it safe. Most likely, he will stay out of Singapore Malaysia issues until he is politically anchored. Nothing will happen in the short term. The good news is that Singapore will enjoy the calm to tend to our own business. On top of this, Najib is too embroiled with domestic politics. All the infighting and internal squabble will consume him. At the same time, the world economic recession too require his full attention.
I will very surprise if Mahathir do not response to the comments Najib made in Singapore. His response will clearly reflect whether the old man still has the political muscle to trouble Najib like what he did to Badawi. But keeping silent is the hardest part for Mahathir.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM Najib visit was a carefully planned and orchestrated ‘wayang’. He was very polish in his speeches, articulate in interviews and his mannerisms relay his sincerity in casting away the turbulent ties with Singapore. He bravely pronounced that he will not be building the ‘crooked bridge’. This bridge was the brainchild and pet project of his mentor Mahathir. Instead he revealed he may build a third bridge in the eastern part of Singapore. What was assuring is that he will not implement any project until it is properly studied and agreed by both countries. This was unlike his predecessor Mahathir who would take unilateral decision in the name of sovereignty and superiority. Also for the first time the Point of Agreement signed in 1990 during Mahathir reign was brought up and both countries agree to revisit all the agreements. Another question asked about Mahathir opposition to Singaporeans in Iskandar was also tactfully addressed. All these acts are courageous as these will surely infuriate Mahathir and some quarters which are anti-Singapore.
My personal view is that Najib is a consummated and wise politician who wanted good relationship with his closest neighbour as the advantages and gains far outweigh the negatives. The thousands of jobs that Singapore provided Malaysians, the tourists’ dollars spent and the investment money Singapore invested. Perhaps his think tank must have briefed him that Malaysia is no more the hinterland of Singapore in this globalised world. The mutual dependence is now more balanced then before. Although Singapore needs clean and cheap water from Johore, it is no more at Malaysia mercy. For food, the republic has diversified its resources. So Malaysia doesn’t have the upper hand and that Singapore is a ‘parasite’ to Malaysia is purely an UMNO fallacy.
He and PM Lee sense that they do not carry any historical baggage that bogged down previous PMs. They have the opportunity to rewrite history. He does acknowledge many thorny and contentious issues are unresolved and deep rooted, but with political will, it can be overcome. He must have learned during Mahathir era, nothing was achieved through strong arm tactics or brinkmanship, something which Mahathir never hesitate to employ.
I watch his joint media conference and I was impressed by his articulate response as well as his sense of humour. So the ‘wayang’ was perfect and both the PM ‘waltzed’ away to a promising new era of Singapore Malaysia partnership. The Singapore press gave front page coverage, but the Malaysia press coverage was lukewarm. This underlines the difficulties facing the two countries. Najib may want to better relationship and cooperation, but what about UMNO members, civil services, Menteris Besars and all the anti-Singaporean lobbies?
After years of Singapore bashing perpetrated by Mahathir and the UMNO rightists, it will take a long time to change this anti-Singapore sentiment. Agreeing to Singapore is deeming by Mahathir as ‘kowtow to Singapore’. The ‘crooked bridge’ was an example of such emotional paranoia. Abandoning the bridge after Singapore disagreed was a sign of ‘losing to Singapore’. So by hook or by crook, a bridge must be build. Such mentality is now deeply entrenched especially among the Malay constituency. To change this mindset will require tremendous political will and magnanimity which Malaysians are still lacking. If not handle properly, it can bring about political suicide.
My view is that Najib will play it safe. Most likely, he will stay out of Singapore Malaysia issues until he is politically anchored. Nothing will happen in the short term. The good news is that Singapore will enjoy the calm to tend to our own business. On top of this, Najib is too embroiled with domestic politics. All the infighting and internal squabble will consume him. At the same time, the world economic recession too require his full attention.
I will very surprise if Mahathir do not response to the comments Najib made in Singapore. His response will clearly reflect whether the old man still has the political muscle to trouble Najib like what he did to Badawi. But keeping silent is the hardest part for Mahathir.
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Saturday, May 9, 2009
MAS SELAMAT CAPTURED
It has been some time since the famous escape of Mas Selamat Kastari (MSK). I was terribly disturbed how he could have escape from the high security prison of Whitley Detention Centre. The mode of escape was bizarre and unbelievable. That has spun theories of conspiracy that had resonated for months. And overnight he becomes the poster boy throughout Singapore. Of course not to forget the jokes that made the rounds through the internet. I remember a joke of MSK is in Malaysia. This is because when you crossed the Causeway, you will see big billboard “Selamat Datang” meaning MSK is coming. Well it is not a joke now. It’s a fact.
Just as the escape has spun conspiracy theories, his capture too will invoke a lot of questions which we the ordinary souls will never get to know. Within hour of his escape, the entire country was locked down. The entire security apparatus of army, police and all the auxillary forces were activated to track him down. Now they said he swam across the Johore Straits with improvised floats. Questions to ask...............
Who help him after his escape? How could be disappeared so fast from the scene?
Who brought him to the causeway?
Who did he stay with before he swam across the causeway?
Who received him at the other end of the causeway?
Did he really swam across the causeway or was his concoction to prevent his mates getting implicated?
WKS and his officers may be vindicated for the sloppiness and the public can be relieved that this terrorist is captured, but terrorism is far from eradicated. What’s worrying is the network of supporters that MSK can garnered and stay undetected for more than a year. The questions one beg to ask is how big this network of underground supporters and sleepers is. It has to worry the authorities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just as the escape has spun conspiracy theories, his capture too will invoke a lot of questions which we the ordinary souls will never get to know. Within hour of his escape, the entire country was locked down. The entire security apparatus of army, police and all the auxillary forces were activated to track him down. Now they said he swam across the Johore Straits with improvised floats. Questions to ask...............
Who help him after his escape? How could be disappeared so fast from the scene?
Who brought him to the causeway?
Who did he stay with before he swam across the causeway?
Who received him at the other end of the causeway?
Did he really swam across the causeway or was his concoction to prevent his mates getting implicated?
WKS and his officers may be vindicated for the sloppiness and the public can be relieved that this terrorist is captured, but terrorism is far from eradicated. What’s worrying is the network of supporters that MSK can garnered and stay undetected for more than a year. The questions one beg to ask is how big this network of underground supporters and sleepers is. It has to worry the authorities.
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Saturday, May 2, 2009
NO CONFIDENCE FOR JOSIE LAU
Josie Lau and her fellow sisters should perhaps been humbled by the event in the last few weeks. It’s time for her to move on and the public should reflect on the chain of events and how such unpleasant saga could have drag in the religious fraternity as well as the government. It should be an eye opener for all who aspire to aim for higher office or who had the divine calling to serve the community.
Winning election does not necessary earn respect. Election is about numbers. Rallying short term support to gain office does not guarantee and sustain long term survival. This has happen in many temples, clans club and associations committees before.
When she took over the as president, she didn’t have any comprehensive plan to remake AWARE at all. As a very senior executive in a bank, and surprisingly, she had no good plan to handle the public and the medias. Instead, she depends on a few issues to justify her actions. It’s not convincing at all. Then when news filtered out that she and her group had come under a feminist mentor, further public cynicism was created. Was she a pawn or a leader? That was here first mistake.
Holding a press conference to justify her position was a big gamble. The media cut both way and she miscalculated. The media needs to be balance and satisfy the public expectation. Because she and her group have affiliation with the church, it was impossible for the media to support her in a multi-religious country. Instead, the press took it as a fodder for sensational news. Subtlety, the press put up pieces of news daily, and when all the news are pieced together, it looks like a conspiracy engineered by her church’s pastor and some members. That was her second mistake, allowing or believing that the press can speak the truth for her.
Her third mistake is to attack the school sexual awareness program as 'promoting lesbianism and homosexuality'. This has polarised the pro family and pro choice lobbies. Her argument is rather out of context and seems dramatising on a small portion of the program that may be contrary to her personal faith. This unwittingly, alienates the schools and the education ministry and compels them to respond. Arguing such issues in public also antagonises certain quarters of the country.
Her fourth mistake is a total miscalculation of the current ground sentiment and under estimating the public support that the old guards still command. She strokes the fire on the sexuality issues but the fires burnt out of control and spills into sensitive arena of religion. Even ministers had to weigh it to calm matters. The president of NCCS had to step out to warn that “pulpit should not have been used in this AWARE saga”. This was followed yesterday by the church pastor to publicly apologise for misusing the pulpit to give backing to Josie and her group and encouraged female churchgoers to support Josie Lau and “her sisters”. Ironically, that was to be Josie’s ‘waterloo’. The battle has been effectively lost. What surprises me was her stubbornness and tenacity to fight on.
As the heat turned on during the initial days, a number of unnecessary events like firing staff, changing locks, shouting matches and many petty stuff that breed more dissent and disquiet. These further erode her integrity and lost the respect of those that may have given her the benefit of the doubt. With the press not so friendly, she further lost credibility.
Josie and her exco members have now decided to step down after this marathon EGM and wishes all the best for AWARE. To me it was a saga that had been dramatised by the media. But Josie and her group was equally at fault for dragging this into public arena. It could have been avoided if only they allow common sense to prevail. As I have said in my previous blog on April 25, the honourable thing to do is to resign. Now she has to be booted out by a non-confidence vote.
Nevertheless, this saga will blow over as fast as it comes. This is because there is more urgent news on Swine Fever and the economic recession that is gripping Singapore and the rest of the world.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winning election does not necessary earn respect. Election is about numbers. Rallying short term support to gain office does not guarantee and sustain long term survival. This has happen in many temples, clans club and associations committees before.
When she took over the as president, she didn’t have any comprehensive plan to remake AWARE at all. As a very senior executive in a bank, and surprisingly, she had no good plan to handle the public and the medias. Instead, she depends on a few issues to justify her actions. It’s not convincing at all. Then when news filtered out that she and her group had come under a feminist mentor, further public cynicism was created. Was she a pawn or a leader? That was here first mistake.
Holding a press conference to justify her position was a big gamble. The media cut both way and she miscalculated. The media needs to be balance and satisfy the public expectation. Because she and her group have affiliation with the church, it was impossible for the media to support her in a multi-religious country. Instead, the press took it as a fodder for sensational news. Subtlety, the press put up pieces of news daily, and when all the news are pieced together, it looks like a conspiracy engineered by her church’s pastor and some members. That was her second mistake, allowing or believing that the press can speak the truth for her.
Her third mistake is to attack the school sexual awareness program as 'promoting lesbianism and homosexuality'. This has polarised the pro family and pro choice lobbies. Her argument is rather out of context and seems dramatising on a small portion of the program that may be contrary to her personal faith. This unwittingly, alienates the schools and the education ministry and compels them to respond. Arguing such issues in public also antagonises certain quarters of the country.
Her fourth mistake is a total miscalculation of the current ground sentiment and under estimating the public support that the old guards still command. She strokes the fire on the sexuality issues but the fires burnt out of control and spills into sensitive arena of religion. Even ministers had to weigh it to calm matters. The president of NCCS had to step out to warn that “pulpit should not have been used in this AWARE saga”. This was followed yesterday by the church pastor to publicly apologise for misusing the pulpit to give backing to Josie and her group and encouraged female churchgoers to support Josie Lau and “her sisters”. Ironically, that was to be Josie’s ‘waterloo’. The battle has been effectively lost. What surprises me was her stubbornness and tenacity to fight on.
As the heat turned on during the initial days, a number of unnecessary events like firing staff, changing locks, shouting matches and many petty stuff that breed more dissent and disquiet. These further erode her integrity and lost the respect of those that may have given her the benefit of the doubt. With the press not so friendly, she further lost credibility.
Josie and her exco members have now decided to step down after this marathon EGM and wishes all the best for AWARE. To me it was a saga that had been dramatised by the media. But Josie and her group was equally at fault for dragging this into public arena. It could have been avoided if only they allow common sense to prevail. As I have said in my previous blog on April 25, the honourable thing to do is to resign. Now she has to be booted out by a non-confidence vote.
Nevertheless, this saga will blow over as fast as it comes. This is because there is more urgent news on Swine Fever and the economic recession that is gripping Singapore and the rest of the world.
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Friday, May 1, 2009
AWARE must BEWARE
The new leadership has generated so much controversy and left many Singaporeans bewildered. I wonder if Josie Lau and her group have anticipated this. Such a baptism of fire probably had not crossed their mind when they planned and mounted this successful ‘coup’. As more news permeated through the media, many Singaporean are still groping for the ‘truth’.
As I see it, if the reason for the takeover is motivated by homosexuality and lesbianism issues, then the effort by this group of well meaning and good intention Christians from the same church have deployed the firepower far disproportionate with its objective. Apart from this sexual issue, no manifestos or visions have yet to surface. The only press conference held too was only about this issue and the intention to put AWARE on the morally right course. To me, an ordinary resolution from members for an EGM to address this issue would have suffice and meet this objective. Why take the effort to mount a takeover even with objection from DBS, employer of Josie Lau.
So, the sincerity of Josie and her group will always be questioned. Although they are elected through legitimate means, but why are 6 members of ecxo from the same church and some has just join recently? Why do they have the same feminist mentor? Was there a manifesto when they stood for election? Why did they hold a press conference without informing the other exco members? Has this exco become inclusive and secretive? All these actions will surely invite the public to be cynical and suspicious of its motive. It will surely breed negative public perception. I like to reiterate that I have nothing against Christians or any religious groups that are out to serve the society for a good purpose. It must exercise wisdom, act with sensitivity and not to bring controversy to its own belief and faith.
Even the Pastor from the Church where 6 members of the Exco hailed from has distanced himself from this leadership saga and categorically stated that he is not involved. Today, head of the NCCS, umbrella Christian body has come out to emphasise that churches should stay out of AWARE internal disputes. Reading in between the lines, I believe the Churches are concerned over religion being dragged into a secular social organisation like AWARE. It does the Church no favour and I see this wise move by the church to contain the damage and fallout. A government minister also said that ‘religion should have no place in petty politics’. Simply it is a dispute that has really gone overboard.
The EGM will be held tomorrow and it is expected to be very heated with plenty of fireworks. Both sides have canvassed for new members and the turnout is expected to be overwhelming. The no-confidence motion against the new team will be tabled by the old guards. I do not expect to see any dispute over the voting process. They sad news is at the end of the voting, one team will have to bow out. And I hope the winner will be magnanimous and the loser gracious. In my opinion, whatever happens, AWARE has been wrecked! It will be more severe if the new team survives this no-confidence motion. Let me predict the probable chain of events.
In order for Josie Lau and company to win, it needs the support of the newly registered members. The press has reported that there is a large surge of memberships lately, a sign of aggressive campaigning and canvassing. As far as the general memberships are concerned, the disputed sexuality issues exposed by the new exco are not contentious and urgent enough to persuade ordinary members to take sides. It can be safely speculated that the bulk of these supporters will be drawn from Christian groups. So if Josie’s camp comes out victorious, they will be mass resignations from the opposing camp. AWARE will inadvertently be saddles with a Christian majority in a secular organisation. That will herald a new era for AWARE.
When this happens, new ideas and visions will be brought into AWARE. Nobody can speculate the future effectiveness or relevance of AWARE. It may end up a stronger and better organisation that can do more for society. Or in the worst case, it may push AWARE into oblivion. Another negative impact is that it will be view as a Christian organisation like YWCA or Salvation Army or ‘homes’ or ‘half way houses’ run by the churches. In a multi-racial country like Singapore, AWARE may lose the broad base support it once had and its ability to serve across the spectrum of religious groups. Surely no religious organisation would like to be seen to ‘colonise’ an established organisation. Definitely this is contrary to any teaching on humanity.
There is a very strong possibility that the old camp may start a similar group with the older members. It had the experiences and the administrative skill and infrastructures to do so. With it 25 years of experience, it can fall back on many sponsors to back them financially. Maybe when that do happens, it may be the silver lining. It will arouse greater awareness of women issues and the biggest winners may be the underprivileged and abused women.
Let see what happen after tomorrow.
-----------------------------------------Living to see the World---------------------------------------
As I see it, if the reason for the takeover is motivated by homosexuality and lesbianism issues, then the effort by this group of well meaning and good intention Christians from the same church have deployed the firepower far disproportionate with its objective. Apart from this sexual issue, no manifestos or visions have yet to surface. The only press conference held too was only about this issue and the intention to put AWARE on the morally right course. To me, an ordinary resolution from members for an EGM to address this issue would have suffice and meet this objective. Why take the effort to mount a takeover even with objection from DBS, employer of Josie Lau.
So, the sincerity of Josie and her group will always be questioned. Although they are elected through legitimate means, but why are 6 members of ecxo from the same church and some has just join recently? Why do they have the same feminist mentor? Was there a manifesto when they stood for election? Why did they hold a press conference without informing the other exco members? Has this exco become inclusive and secretive? All these actions will surely invite the public to be cynical and suspicious of its motive. It will surely breed negative public perception. I like to reiterate that I have nothing against Christians or any religious groups that are out to serve the society for a good purpose. It must exercise wisdom, act with sensitivity and not to bring controversy to its own belief and faith.
Even the Pastor from the Church where 6 members of the Exco hailed from has distanced himself from this leadership saga and categorically stated that he is not involved. Today, head of the NCCS, umbrella Christian body has come out to emphasise that churches should stay out of AWARE internal disputes. Reading in between the lines, I believe the Churches are concerned over religion being dragged into a secular social organisation like AWARE. It does the Church no favour and I see this wise move by the church to contain the damage and fallout. A government minister also said that ‘religion should have no place in petty politics’. Simply it is a dispute that has really gone overboard.
The EGM will be held tomorrow and it is expected to be very heated with plenty of fireworks. Both sides have canvassed for new members and the turnout is expected to be overwhelming. The no-confidence motion against the new team will be tabled by the old guards. I do not expect to see any dispute over the voting process. They sad news is at the end of the voting, one team will have to bow out. And I hope the winner will be magnanimous and the loser gracious. In my opinion, whatever happens, AWARE has been wrecked! It will be more severe if the new team survives this no-confidence motion. Let me predict the probable chain of events.
In order for Josie Lau and company to win, it needs the support of the newly registered members. The press has reported that there is a large surge of memberships lately, a sign of aggressive campaigning and canvassing. As far as the general memberships are concerned, the disputed sexuality issues exposed by the new exco are not contentious and urgent enough to persuade ordinary members to take sides. It can be safely speculated that the bulk of these supporters will be drawn from Christian groups. So if Josie’s camp comes out victorious, they will be mass resignations from the opposing camp. AWARE will inadvertently be saddles with a Christian majority in a secular organisation. That will herald a new era for AWARE.
When this happens, new ideas and visions will be brought into AWARE. Nobody can speculate the future effectiveness or relevance of AWARE. It may end up a stronger and better organisation that can do more for society. Or in the worst case, it may push AWARE into oblivion. Another negative impact is that it will be view as a Christian organisation like YWCA or Salvation Army or ‘homes’ or ‘half way houses’ run by the churches. In a multi-racial country like Singapore, AWARE may lose the broad base support it once had and its ability to serve across the spectrum of religious groups. Surely no religious organisation would like to be seen to ‘colonise’ an established organisation. Definitely this is contrary to any teaching on humanity.
There is a very strong possibility that the old camp may start a similar group with the older members. It had the experiences and the administrative skill and infrastructures to do so. With it 25 years of experience, it can fall back on many sponsors to back them financially. Maybe when that do happens, it may be the silver lining. It will arouse greater awareness of women issues and the biggest winners may be the underprivileged and abused women.
Let see what happen after tomorrow.
-----------------------------------------Living to see the World---------------------------------------
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