Here, anything goes
THE electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election
(CAEAL) held a meeting with media representatives to explain what is
expected of them on the road to the next legislative elections.
During that meeting, which I attended, CAEAL’s President Ip Son Sang argued that the media has a relevant role in ensuring a fair election. The judge than began to try and educate the audience - which was composed of journalists - about what they should do to in order to avoid the pitfalls of propaganda and how to report in a balanced way. The explanation provided was confusing and some Chinese media representatives started asking what they could and could not do: “Is it ok to do an interview with a candidate?”
A director of a Portuguese language newspaper asked ironically if Ip Son Sang wanted to teach the journalists how to write news reports. The judge’s reply was still not clear about CAEL’s definition of irregular journalistic practices. More questions ensued as his speech progressed.
This introduction serves to illustrate how CAEL chose the wrong target when trying to fulfill their stated goal of “striving to improve the election culture of Macau”. Let us hope that the Commissioner Against Corruption, Vasco Fong (CAEL’s president during the last elections), will know where to find those who try to manipulate election results. Fong revealed that the CCAC had been preparing for the elections since the beginning of this year and expressed his wishes that candidates and voters will “follow the dictates of conscience and behave themselves” during the election period.
CAEL’s meeting with the local media occured on the same day as the announcement of the arrangements for the 2013 cash handout. During a press conference held at the government headquarters, it was confirmed that the payment will start July 2 and will continue until September 13. Every permanent resident will receive MOP8,000 and non-permanent residents get MOP4,800 each. The number of people entitled to the MOP 8K payment this year is 569,780, while those eligible for the MOP4.8K payment is 68,112. The government will spend MOP4.9b under the scheme.
This announcement reveals two eye-opening facts: One is that the government decided to hand out the money later than usual. During the most recent years of the plan’s implementation, the bank cheques (or the bank transfers) were distributed to the recipients before May 1. This was seen as a way to appease the protesters and avoid confrontations during the Labor Day demonstrations.
The other is that in this election year the payments will continue until September 13. This is two days before the permanent-residents will cast their votes, since September 15 is the date for the next legislative elections.
One benign interpretation to this postponement is that the government is trying to prevent the possibility of any additional cash handouts this year. Handing out less cash than in the previous year during the first semester once resulted in a new batch of cheques during the second semester. Maybe Chui Sai On doesn’t want to repeat that.
Another interpretation is that by distributing money so close to the election date, the government is using the cash handout not only to “share economic success” (as the CE put it) but to influence the population to vote in pro-government lists (like it did to influence the May 1 protesters).
In places where the democratic culture is mature (like the US and most of Europe) it would be unacceptable for any government to distribute money days before an election. There is no need to explain why: Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.
But here, anything goes.
(in MDT)
During that meeting, which I attended, CAEAL’s President Ip Son Sang argued that the media has a relevant role in ensuring a fair election. The judge than began to try and educate the audience - which was composed of journalists - about what they should do to in order to avoid the pitfalls of propaganda and how to report in a balanced way. The explanation provided was confusing and some Chinese media representatives started asking what they could and could not do: “Is it ok to do an interview with a candidate?”
A director of a Portuguese language newspaper asked ironically if Ip Son Sang wanted to teach the journalists how to write news reports. The judge’s reply was still not clear about CAEL’s definition of irregular journalistic practices. More questions ensued as his speech progressed.
This introduction serves to illustrate how CAEL chose the wrong target when trying to fulfill their stated goal of “striving to improve the election culture of Macau”. Let us hope that the Commissioner Against Corruption, Vasco Fong (CAEL’s president during the last elections), will know where to find those who try to manipulate election results. Fong revealed that the CCAC had been preparing for the elections since the beginning of this year and expressed his wishes that candidates and voters will “follow the dictates of conscience and behave themselves” during the election period.
CAEL’s meeting with the local media occured on the same day as the announcement of the arrangements for the 2013 cash handout. During a press conference held at the government headquarters, it was confirmed that the payment will start July 2 and will continue until September 13. Every permanent resident will receive MOP8,000 and non-permanent residents get MOP4,800 each. The number of people entitled to the MOP 8K payment this year is 569,780, while those eligible for the MOP4.8K payment is 68,112. The government will spend MOP4.9b under the scheme.
This announcement reveals two eye-opening facts: One is that the government decided to hand out the money later than usual. During the most recent years of the plan’s implementation, the bank cheques (or the bank transfers) were distributed to the recipients before May 1. This was seen as a way to appease the protesters and avoid confrontations during the Labor Day demonstrations.
The other is that in this election year the payments will continue until September 13. This is two days before the permanent-residents will cast their votes, since September 15 is the date for the next legislative elections.
One benign interpretation to this postponement is that the government is trying to prevent the possibility of any additional cash handouts this year. Handing out less cash than in the previous year during the first semester once resulted in a new batch of cheques during the second semester. Maybe Chui Sai On doesn’t want to repeat that.
Another interpretation is that by distributing money so close to the election date, the government is using the cash handout not only to “share economic success” (as the CE put it) but to influence the population to vote in pro-government lists (like it did to influence the May 1 protesters).
In places where the democratic culture is mature (like the US and most of Europe) it would be unacceptable for any government to distribute money days before an election. There is no need to explain why: Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.
But here, anything goes.
(in MDT)
Etiquetas: Crónica
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