SFD AGM Report

Singaporeans for Democracy

Pro-tem President Report
(29 April 2009 to 28 April 2010)

Application

Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD) was conceptualised at a meeting of experienced activists in December 2008 to further civil and political reform in Singapore. Following this first meeting, further online and face-to- face consultations were held to identify key individuals who would form the pro-tem committee. After the pro-tem committee members were identified, it was agreed that an application to register SFD - as a political association - will be lodged with the Registrar of Societies. On 29 April 2009, an online application was submitted via the ROS portal. The application materials are archived under “Documentation” on http://sfd.sg/.

Follow Up

Three months after the application was submitted and with no correspondence received on the status of the application, several members of the SFD, on the request of the pro-tem President, made telephone inquiries to ROS. SFD representatives were told on each occasion that the application was still being processed.

Public Announcement

When the application entered the ninth month and with no further information from ROS as to when SFD will be registered, the pro-tem committee decided to make public SFD’s application to ROS. The first announcement was made on 5th January 2010 at Speakers Corner at an activity to commemorate the late JB Jeyaretnam. A week following the public announcement a website and Facebook account for SFD were launched. The announcement and information on the SFD website were picked up by both the mainstream and online media and news of SFD application and its long wait became a matter of public interest. News reports on SFD following the public announcements are available and archived on http://sfd.sg/. The pro-tem President and several pro-tem members additionally participated in several outreach activities of other organisations where they also addressed the issue of SFD’s application to register with ROS.

Registration

28 days after SFD’s application to ROS was made public, on 2 February 2010 ROS in a letter to the Pro-tem committee approved the application. SFD pro-tem President, Dr. James Gomez, pro-tem Treasurer, Mr. Seelan Palay and pro-tem member Mr. Martyn See met with ROS Head Eugene Heng Hiang Lik and Deputy Head Ms. Joway Tan Keng Wei at 10.30am on 3 February 2010 to receive the approval letter and discuss the application in person. Following which the SFD representatives paid the prescribed registration fee of S$400.00. After payment of the fee, on the same day (3 February 2010) two notices of SFD’s registration were published on the Government Gazette Electronic Version. One, at 4.00pm by the Registrar of Societies to confirm the registration of SFD and the other at 5.00pm by the Prime Minister’s Office to list SFD as a political association under the Political Donation Act. The listing of SFD as a political association was within the pro-tem committee’s expectation as SFD applied to register as a political association.

1st Meeting

On 6 February 2010, the SFD pro-tem committee held its first post-registration meeting. The meeting agreed to focus on completing administration matters related to SFD’s registration. These included submitting the paperwork to register the SFD website with MDA, opening a bank account, and recruiting an initial membership base. Martyn See was appointed as chair of the membership committee. It was agreed that the conclusion of these administrative matters and membership recruitment was to be followed by SFD’s 1st AGM.

Funding

The start up funds, to facilitate the registration of SFD, was made possible by the voluntary contributions of pro-tem members. Initial expenses were low and were limited to ROS registration fees, renting an office mailing address and website hosting fees.

Membership

SFD membership base, following registration and leading up to the AGM was first drawn from the pool of pro-tem members. Additional members were recruited via the membership committee. Pro-tem members Chia Ti Lik, Ng E-Jay and Jufri Salim, after completing their pro-tem duties, indicated that they will not take up SFD membership. The contribution of these pro-tem members and those involved in the earlier discussions concerning SFD’s registration is noted with thanks.

SFD’s post-registration activities

Following the registration and 1st meeting of the pro-tem committee, SFD members were invited to attend meetings and conferences, meet with representatives from diplomatic missions and participate in workshops and consultations. On 22 April 2010 an SFD delegation was invited to met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism, Mr. Githu Muigai, and present him with a written submission during his mission to Singapore. The invitation to and participation in these range of activities marks SFD’s emerging role in Singapore's civil and political landscape.

The 1st AGM completes the administrative obligations associated with SFD's registration with ROS. The election of the 1st Board of Directors will set the framework for SFD to pursue a structured program of activities. Moving forward, the work of SFD will be assessed against key organisational and democracy indicators adopted by the SFD's 1st Board of Directors and its alignment with the association's objectives.

Pro-tem President
Dr. James Gomez