Coutinho and Song scuffle in televised debate

Lawmakers Song Pek Kei and Pereira Coutinho broke into an argument during a televised election debate broadcast yesterday on TDM, after Song launched a scathing attack on Coutinho, accusing him of being unable to handle family affairs.

Song, who heads List 8 in the Legislative Assembly election, was referring to the two sons of Coutinho who were arrested in December on suspicion of trafficking cannabis into the territory.

“If one can’t handle family affairs, then how can one lead so many people in the whole of society?” said Song. “When they [your children] were in trouble, what did you say to support them? If I were your child, I would be heartbroken.”

The lawmaker then pressed Coutinho to answer whether he thought heavier punishments for drug trafficking was warranted.

Coutinho, who is the first candidate of List 6, in turn accused Song of using Cultural Revolution-style attacks in her condemnation.

“Are we living in the era of the Cultural Revolution, where three generations have to be held accountable [for a crime]?” he retorted. “We are living in Macau now; we are not cultural revolutionaries [and] we are not Red Guard.”

The Cultural Revolution was a socio-political purge that took place on the mainland from 1966 to 1976 to eradicate traditional elements from Chinese culture and society.

Later yesterday, Rita Santos, a representative of List 6, criticized TDM for not intervening even though Song’s comments violated the rules of the debate, which prohibit personal attacks. Santos sent a letter to the Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) demanding its intervention.