Aware saga 10 years on: Scars and tensions remain

Dramatic culmination of a clash had left religious and cultural fault lines exposed

The extraordinary general meeting held in May 2009 at Suntec City, where two-thirds of about 2,000 Aware members voted for a no-confidence motion on the new leadership spearheaded by Ms Josie Lau. It was the dramatic culmination of a clash between a
Aware president Margaret Thomas (right) and executive director Corinna Lim at the group's premises in Dover Crescent. Aware has seen changes, such as measures to prevent any future hostile takeovers by members, following the 2009 saga which sparked a nationwide debate on issues such as the place of religion in civil society. PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
The extraordinary general meeting held in May 2009 at Suntec City, where two-thirds of about 2,000 Aware members voted for a no-confidence motion on the new leadership spearheaded by Ms Josie Lau. It was the dramatic culmination of a clash between a
The extraordinary general meeting held in May 2009 at Suntec City, where two-thirds of about 2,000 Aware members voted for a no-confidence motion on the new leadership spearheaded by Ms Josie Lau. It was the dramatic culmination of a clash between a group of religious individuals and members of the women's rights group. ST FILE PHOTO ST
Yuen Sin
Political Correspondent
Updated
May 08, 2019, 08:58 PM
Published
May 05, 2019, 05:00 AM
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About two months ago, Ms Margaret Thomas, president of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), dug up the e-mail addresses of some former members.

She sent cordial messages to the association's former president Josie Lau, former vice-president Charlotte Wong and former honorary treasurer Maureen Ong, as well as Dr Thio Su Mien, a former law dean at the National University of Singapore.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on May 05, 2019, with the headline Aware saga 10 years on: Scars and tensions remain. Subscribe

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