Until recently, many of them had no more than a passing knowledge of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

'You have not been open and honest with us from the beginning. I am concerned that if you remain in office, you will change the fundamental nature of Aware.'
Former Aware president Zaibun Siraj, on Ms Josie Lau's team
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But concerned over what they saw as a stealthy takeover of a secular organisation by a group of Christian women, hundreds of women signed up as Aware members to put right what they felt was a grave wrong.

And yesterday, they spoke clearly, in a resounding vote of no confidence in Aware's five-week-old leadership.

Several spoke up at the Aware extraordinary general meeting, questioning Ms Josie Lau and her team, as well as their mentor, veteran lawyer Thio Su Mien, who had encouraged women to take over Aware.

Internet executive Hafizah Osman, 39, pointed out that Ms Lau and her executive committee (exco) members were all of the same race and faith.

'Where is the diversity?' asked the mother of two, who wore a pink headscarf.

'As a Muslim woman, I have no faith that you can represent my voice, my views, my faith.'

Business development manager Siddy Zb, 45, said that the new Aware team contravened the spirit of the Singapore pledge, which promises to build a democratic society based on justice and equality for all.

'This is not about the new guard or old guard,' she said. 'You deliberately left out the old guard who were on your committee at meetings,' she said. 'Is that equality?'

The new exco's stand against homosexuality also generated heated debate.

Associate Professor Chitra Sankaran, 49, from the National University of Singapore, who teaches a module in feminism, said that she felt compelled to join Aware last month as she thought the new committee would harm its international stature.

She rose to point out that according to modern feminist theory, you cannot speak about one marginalised group - in this case women - without speaking for all marginalised groups, including racial, religious and sexual minorities.

Observing that Aware had won widespread respect in the region, she said: 'Please do not undermine Aware's international credibility with your thoughtless actions.'

Public relations executive Meera N, 23, spoke up, saying: 'I am not a raging lesbian, but I believe you have no right to tell us who to love. It's ridiculous. You have to be pro-choice.'

She too joined Aware recently, to be heard.

Undergraduate May Yee, 21, defended Aware's sexuality education programme, which has faced flak from the new guard for a chart in which homosexuality is treated as neutral.

She said she had had a Christian education and added: 'I did not come out of the system learning to judge people. For people to make informed choices, they must have information.'

Arguing for parents to give their children access to optional school-based sexuality education programmes, she said: 'The alternative is the Internet and it's much harder, especially without adult guidance.'

Many women who described themselves as Christians also said they disagreed with the new exco, with some chiding them for 'un-Christian behaviour'.

Actress Irene Ang, who runs a talent agency, criticised the new exco for changing the locks on the Aware office and asked: 'How can you change the locks and say your doors are open?'

Ms Dale Edmonds, a mother who described herself as a 'traditional Christian', also spoke passionately in favour of Aware's sexuality education programme and its other programmes.

She said that as an 18-year-old she had received free legal advice from Aware and it helped her get out of a bad marriage.

'They helped me when I needed help badly. Now I want to do what I can do help them back,' she said.

Although the Josie Lau team had several hundred women supporters in the room, hardly any stood up to speak during the proceedings.

From their seats, some of them would call out: 'How rude, how rude.'

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.