Interestingly, looking through the Razor TV, the old guard’s
came very well prepared.
Some points to note:
1. Giving only 1-5min for new-exco to ponder on their resignation,
giving almost no time for the new-exco to consult their legal
counsel.
2. Having nominations and re-election on the same general
meeting. This is almost seldom done before. Since EOGM
has its own agenda for meeting. Nominations and re-election should
be set aside for another AGM.
3. When nominating and re-electing, there is only 1 person for
ALL posts! Oh my gosh, meaning they can significantly
cut down voting counting time, since there are no 2 choices. So
fast as the person was nominated, she is immediately elected
without need for vote counting due to default.
However, I believe all those that got elected are the old guards,
not those that just registered or with AWARE for less
than 1 year.
4.For agenda items 3A, 3B, 3C, you will notice that when Josie
announced the results, there is significant polarity of votes. 14++
Yes, 76+ No, for all 3 motions!!!! It is like almost vote rigging,
or what I can see is vote polarization.
Also as in the ex-new exco resignation press conference, the
problem is pointed out as to how representative this 14++ votes are
to the women population of Singapore.
5. The old guard did not given the new exco many chances of
explaining their manifasto or what they intend to do with
AWARE, this is somewhat unfair. The old guard’s
strategy is to create a lot of hackling and commotion, and to take
control of the EOGM, like plaining high-jacking the
EOGM.
The newly elected will have to address these issues, especially
on how to convince the 76+ voters on their alternate choice of
votes to gain their confidence or understand their thinking.
This are the most neutral views by layman on the streets or
those who went to witness the events.
http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/n…
This is a view by the producers from razortv without actually
voicing any of their opinions, so I guess u can thus say the
producers were "neutral".
However, this may not be the case. I'm sure the producers
interviewed several people, much more than than the 4-5
broadcasted. The producers could have chose to broadcast those more
supportive of one camp over the other consecutively, hence swaying
the audience over to one side.
Aside from this, a couple of ladies interview said they they
wished to hear what the ex-new exco have to say, but was unable to
because of the rowdy behaviour by the members. This may give the
audience an impression that the ex-new exco was bullied, and not
given a chance. We know this is not true. In fact, the ex-new exco
could be secretly glad of the rowdy behaviour, as this allows them
to "skirt" the tough questions.
An example of this is seen in Talking Point where Joise Lau n
Mareen Ong brought irrelvant areas to avoid answering the questions
directly. The hosts have to re-direct them back several times.
Hence this video by razortv is not a neutral view by layman.
Anyway, I believe you got the "5min for new-exco to ponder on
their resignation" (your item 1) information from the interview
with Maureen Ong, who is with the ex-new exco, towards the last few
minutes of the video. This is in fact not true.
http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2009/5/2/live-aware-showdown-at-suntec
9.14pm: Ms Josie Lau
comes on stage to make a statement. "We have decided to graciously
step down. We wish Aware all the best."
9.05pm: Ex-Aware
president Dana Lam is nominated new President, Chew I Jin is
vice-president, honorary secretary is Yap Chang Wi, Assistant
Honorary Secretary is Corrina Lim, honorary treasurer is Tan Ju
Hin, and Assistant treasurer is Lim Xiaoyun.
8.59pm: Old exco
proposed motion to remove Ms Josie Lau's exco. This was passed with
two objections. It now wants to elect a new exco - position for
position.
8.51pm: Event
organiser said new exco president Josie Lau and committee members
are coming back shortly. Old guard exco says demand they return by
8.50pm or assembly will pass motion to remove the new
team.
8.47pm: "I declare by their conduct they have resigned," declared
former president of Aware, Ms Braema Mathi. New exco has made no
appearance since vote count was made known.
8.43pm: Audience waiting for new exco president Josie Lau and team
to come back on stage to respond whether they will resign or not,
following no confidence vote on them.
8.15pm: Legally the
new exco is allowed to stay in office even though vote of no
confidence has been passed, said Aware's legal counsel Gregory
Vijayendran.
8.10pm: Vote of no confidence on new Aware Exco passed with votes
of 2 to 1. The assembly calls for mass resignation of
exco.
From the blog, ex-new exco will at least have more than
30minutes to make the decision.