Comments on: Staff-in-confidence matters should be kept that way, DBS

By: Dorothy Poon.com » Blog Archive » Banking and Social Media #1 : Some thoughts

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:45:56 +0000

[...] DBS expresses disapproval of their Vice President of Credit Cards, Josie Lau, taking up the presidency of women’s group AWARE [...]

By: huhaahaa

huhaahaa — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:25:57 +0000

i think this author is leaning to the Christian side of things. Enough said.

By: The Void Deck » Conspiracy Theory Awareness

The Void Deck » Conspiracy Theory Awareness — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:32:17 +0000

[...] the anti-gay angle as a big reason behind the AWARE capture was a tad sensational and simplistic, but its spell chanting raised an army of the undead [...]

By: VFrankl

VFrankl — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:51:45 +0000

Thanks for enlightening me on the bank’s policy. Even though I am a supporter of gay rights, I also think that we could run in danger of being too presumptuous about Josie mixing work with personal views and agenda. Firstly, if you are in a position to fundraise for an NGO, would you go to the one which YOU BELIEVE has a worthwhile cause? Secondly, the choice to support a pro-family group should not automatically make one anti-homosexuality. If I support SPCA, it doesn’t make me anti-Mankind. What I cannot understand here is, how an intelligent woman like her who has made it to her present position would (1) lack the tact in considering the repercussions of getting her company to support an organization with a cause that has increasingly gained more supporters, and (2) after the first episode, unable to learn from the lesson and even openly defy the explicit directives of her company to be AWARE’s president? She is either (a) not really intelligent, or (b) wants to pursue her cause more than she wants her job.

By: Kelvin Wong

Kelvin Wong — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:28:56 +0000

Women’s rights also includes gay women’s right, which is also part of gay rights.

By: Gerald Giam

Gerald Giam — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:52:16 +0000

PS – Have you considered the possibility that the new exco’s agenda is to focus Aware back on its original mandate — which is to fight for women’s rights, not to rights of men? In this light, it is possible that they saw the old exco as having that exclusive agenda which they needed to counter. Of course my guess is as good as yours, since I don’t know any of them.

By: PS

PS — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:28:17 +0000

Fascinating episode. Lets not forget the real issue – the takeover of AWARE (thru legal means) by a bunch of people who are reticent in revealing why they are taking over AWARE – I think its become clear that they have an exclusive agenda, and this is unhealthy for Singapore society – regardless what that agenda is. The new exco seem to want a rank that allows them to behave like moral policemen. Their actions in taking over AWARE the way they did, lack of openness and transparency are a precedent for future conduct.

DBS’ actions need to be seen in this light. While I agree in principle, there is no need to air one’s dirty laundry in public, in this instance, I think DBS has a larger objective in mind, in light of the FoF episode. Personal agendas getting involved -something any private or public employer should eschew. Koh Boon Hwee or Liang Eng Hwa’s work as Directors in other companys or their party responsibilities are red herrings and provide no basis for comparison.

By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 16

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 16 — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:29:26 +0000

[...] of DBS: why staff is allowed to join PAP as MP but not AWARE as Council member? – geraldgiam.sg: Staff-in-confidence matters should be kept that way, DBS – Musings: Josie and DBS’s HR Policy – The Wayang Party: More questions raised over PAP MP Dr [...]

By: James Michael Parthi

James Michael Parthi — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:13:10 +0000

Righteous Singa,

In case you noticed,i was a DBS staff a couple of years ago,Josie Lau was my VP when i was working in Shenton Way,i noticed how the way she handled herself,i’ved worked side by side with her & other VPs’,i have nothing against her,well,for instance,she may have made a rash decision or a silly mistake,i choose not to condemn or flame a person online just because she made a mess of the entire situation,i strongly believe the bank’s management is definitely not happy with her,its personal & i know it,if you have worked in the banking & financial sector,you know what i’m talking about.

In life,we can’t please everyone all the time,we do things that we feel is right for us,for every action,there has to be a reaction,what Josie has done,she has to be answerable & responsible for her actions,if she chooses to keep mum about the situation,we have to respect that as well,she doesn’t owe any explanation to anyone of us,she need not defend her decision in public,her only choice now is to keep a low profile.

By: Righteous Singa

Righteous Singa — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:54:13 +0000

I do find it quite interesting that DBS chose to air such private matters in public and I personally find it quite distasteful. Mr Parthi’s speculation about internal politics is quite plausible.

Nonetheless, I think Josie deserves to be reprimanded at the very least. (A less charitable person might even suggest dismissal) She chose to defy her company’s wishes and unfortunately for her, she seems to have pissed a few people off in her firm, hence the decision to prevent her from running as President of AWARE.

I also think her role in the Focus to the Family debacle must have made quite a few of her bosses very cross. What a PR disaster. I think what she did was very sneaky. Why should my $300 of purchases lead to a donation to a cause that I do not believe in.

I don’t know if she has any affiliation to FTTF and yes it could just have been an innocent mistake but I am inclined to believe that her views played a role. At the very least, she showed very poor judgment, hence I’m not sure why James Parthi seems to speaks so highly of her.