ANM petitions for AL to pressure gov’t over electoral reform

Sulu Sou and Lei Kuok Keong

In light of the recent “Occupy Central” movement in Hong Kong, the New Macau Association (ANM) has called on the Legislative Assembly (AL) to help kick-
start constitutional reform.
Yesterday afternoon several ANM members, including president Sulu Sou Ka Hou and former president Jason Chao, submitted a petition to the AL.
“As a democratic body, the AL should fulfill its responsibility to press the government to launch constitutional reform and strive to establish a timeframe for the universal suffrage of the Chief Executive and [all seats] of the AL,” the petition read.
Talking to non-Chinese media on behalf of Sulu Sou, Jason Chao said that Macau should consult the public on universal suffrage alongside Hong Kong. He also revealed that the ANM is currently negotiating with the University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Program in relation to a survey on Macau residents’ attitude towards the composition of the AL, as well as how election of the CE by universal suffrage should be defined. If the survey proceeds according to schedule, the result will be available this December.
In terms of the influence of Hong Kong’s Occupy movement on Macau, Jason Chao said that it has motivated young people to think about Macau’s political system. But he thinks that the HK Occupy movement must run its course before its influence on Macau can be comprehensively discussed.
When asked about whether he thinks that a similar movement will take place in Macau, Jason Chao said that occupying the streets is only one means of fighting for democracy. “I don’t think, at this stage, the occupation of public places will gain the popular support in Macau,” he said.

Jason Chao slams ANM lawmakers for ‘unilateral independence’

Jason Chao voiced his discontent regarding what he called Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San’s “unilaterally declaring their independence from the ANM.”
“I disagree with what the legislators are doing. They just unilaterally declared so-called independence from the ANM without obtaining consent from the association,” he said.
Jason Chao claimed that in the past, lawmakers took a leading role in the association. But he said that changes have taken place since 2010 and the ANM board of directors, led mainly by young people, has developed its own views on many political issues. He also suggested that there were disputes between ANM board members and the lawmakers on some political issues, including LGBT rights and the rights of non-resident workers. He went further by stating that there is “no room for cooperation” between ANM and the lawmakers on some issues.
Jason Chao said that he does not know whether the issue will affect the democratic movement in Macau. “Let’s see what will happen in the future,” he said, although he suspects that it is just a normal process in the development of political organizations.