A sad and sobering experience at my first Old Paulians AGM

 I had looked forward to attending the annual meeting for the first time, but what unfolded was more courtroom drama than a gathering of kindred alumni.

From Michael Soh

I had looked forward with pride and a sense of belonging towards attending for the first time the annual general meeting of the Old Paulians’ Association. But what unfolded was deeply disappointing and disheartening — more like a courtroom drama than a gathering of kindred alumni.

The meeting was marred by serious allegations of financial mismanagement, of board members allegedly drawing handsome salaries, and even with racial undertones.

A police report was said to have been lodged, and officers were reportedly called in to oversee the AGM, though they never showed up.

Emotions ran high, and the victim card was played strategically, resulting in a dramatic spike in attendance: more than 250 people showed up, a historic fivefold increase from the previous year’s 36. But this momentum, sadly, was built on controversy rather than community spirit.

One moment that struck me deeply was the public shaming of a sitting member for the low turnout at previous annual meetings during his tenure.

What many failed to acknowledge (or perhaps deliberately ignored) was that this person had a valid and deeply human reason: he was suffering from heart complications and had undergone bypass surgery. By the grace of God, he has since made a full recovery.

This is the same man who was responsible for delivering the only turf hockey facility (green synthetic grass) in Negeri Sembilan — a significant contribution by any measure.

Yet when his name and legacy were questioned, he wasn’t even given the chance to defend himself. He had to walk up, uninvited, to clarify matters just to preserve his dignity.

He should never have had to do that. The sitting board should have stood up for one of their own and defended a teammate who had contributed so much, and not leave him to hang alone.

Two weeks prior to the AGM, a so-called “transparency town hall” was held. But what was meant to be a forum for openness was turned into a one-sided courtroom complete with charges, judgment, and sentencing.

No actual poison letter or police report was presented as evidence, but the narrative was clear: that unscrupulous outsiders were trying to infiltrate and destroy the legacy of the association.

Honestly, it felt like watching a political thriller movie, not a community AGM.

Caught in the crossfire, I became a casualty, too. I was removed from the OPA Facebook page, after sharing best practices for running an association more effectively. Is this what we’ve come to?

What concerns me most is not whether the allegations are true or false but with the way the board chose to handle the crisis.

When an organisation is under public scrutiny, especially concerning finances, the best course of action is clear: call in external, independent auditors. Let them review and publish a transparent report.

It is completely unacceptable to have an internal team audit their own board. No one should be allowed to investigate and clear themselves. It’s a basic governance principle.

What I experienced was not what OPA stands for, or at least, not what I believed it to be.

I walked in with hope, but walked out with heavy questions about where the association is headed, and whether the values we once stood for are still intact.

(Editor’s note: the Old Paulians’ Association comprises former students and teachers of St Paul’s Institution in Seremban, one of the schools set up by the La Salle Brothers.) - FMT

Michael Soh is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.