Lawmakers question DSSOPT director appointment

Several lawmakers have asked the government to explain the decision to appoint the former deputy director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) Li Canfeng as the new director of the bureau. The administration countered that Li has the knowledge and experience required to fill the position.
Ho Ion Sang told Macau Daily that the directorship of DSSOPT is an important and delicate position, which requires the holder to possess moral integrity and certain skills. He said that, as the bureau director, an individual has to have professional skills and political sensitivity, as well as the ability to take responsibility and to execute instruction.
The lawmaker said that society is uncertain about the appointment of Li because of the way he testified during the trial of his former superior, the disgraced Secretary for Transport and Public Works Ao Man Long. The lawmaker believes that while the administration has its own reason to put Li in charge of DSSOPT, it should provide an explanation about its decision as soon as possible. “Why [is society] not questioning [the appointment of] any official but his?” he asked, claiming that the government should pay attention to the public’s doubt on the issue.
Moreover, the lawmaker criticized the public relation skills of the new Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo Rosário, describing the way he responded to the media regarding Li’s appointment as inappropriate. The Secretary has told the media to “go look up [Li Canfeng’s] background” themselves when asked about Li’s competency.
Meanwhile, Ho’s colleague, pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San, pointed out that it is strange for Secretary Rosário to claim that it is the government, not him, who has chosen Li. He asked whether the CE bypassed the Secretary when appointing Li. Like Ho Ion Sang, Au urged the government to disclose the details of the appointment so that the public can make judgment on the rationale behind the decision.
In a statement released by the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works on Monday, the government said that Li had been a public servant for a long time and was DSSOPT’s deputy director of since before the sovereignty handover. Combined with the fact that he holds a doctoral degree, the government believes that Li possesses the professional knowledge and is familiar with the operational matters. The statement also said that the administration hopes the new director will be listening to the people’s opinion and improve the transparency of the public administrative process.
During the court hearings of the Au Man Long case in 2007, Li had responded to multiple questions with “I can’t remember” and “I have no recollection”, which had drawn criticisms from the judge. He left the government in 2008. JPL