Local youth dissatisfaction linked to lack of future prospects

Si Ka Long

Lawxmaker Si Ka Lon said that many of the demands currently being made by the public for change are connected to the housing problem in Macau. He also believes that the increasing number of young protestors on the streets is motivated by a lack of clear future prospects.
The lawmaker spoke to the media on the sidelines of a Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) public lecture in which he shared with  students his views on the recent trend of social movement.
In his observations, many of the demands residents have actually voiced revolve around housing. “From the housing problem come many other issues. Therefore, the root [of the demands] is in fact housing,” he said.
Moreover, the lawmaker pointed out that residents are hesitant towards the authorities because it controls most of the society’s resources, especially financial resources, given that it is taxing the casino operators up to 40 percent of their gaming revenue. Nevertheless, it failed to properly utilize the windfall.
“I always said that the government failed to think about the future and create more possible ‘way-outs’ for society or to invest. It only let the money idle,” he said.
In terms of the increasing dissatisfaction experienced by younger residents, Mr Si said that the administration should create a future outlook for young people through regional co-
operation or by allowing Macau to have its own industries.
“Since we only have one dominating industry, [young people] cannot see their future… The government has already proposed a lot of ideas such as transforming Macau into a world-class tourism and leisure centre, as well as the platform and centres for the Lusophone countries and China. However, the government still does not provide a proper blueprint for these ideas since they were suggested. There were only slogans coming out in these few years, but what about the blueprint,” he said.
The lawmaker reckoned that the younger generation does not require the government to provide a lot of support, but at least to tell them its blueprint for the MSAR’s future development, and what pathways they will be able to choose after they finish their studies.
Furthermore, Si Ka Lon believes that it is normal for young people to express their opinions through personal actions such as marching on the streets instead of requiring lawmakers to represent them. He also suggested that the authorities should better engage with the civil organizations in Macau. The organizations, he thinks, should also become more proactive in “doing their jobs” instead of solely relying on the financial support from the government.