Jorge Fão, former lawmaker: Macau not yet ready for democracy

‘In the system ‘one person, one vote’, the candidate that has more money will always win. This system is not the best for Macau’

Hong Kong has taken a very important step towards political reform and Macau can take advantage of that, but local “critical masse” is still missing, said Jorge Fão, former lawmaker and Macau Civil Servants Association (ATFPM) president.
Having been out of politics for some time now, Fão shares his views about the AL since he stepped down. Speaking to Macau Daily Times, he says that the Assembly follows the Government’s will and that Macau is not yet prepared for democracy. The walls of his current office at the pensioners’ association APOMAC, are covered with old newspapers clippings talking about the man and his work.
Fão was a unionist and was the first lawmaker to present a trade union law proposal in Macau. Several years on, he shares his views on this, and the new labour and imported workers laws.

Macau Daily Times (MDT) – The new Legislative Assembly (AL) has been working since October last year and includes new faces from sectors which previously had a minor representation. How do you see the lawmakers’ work?

Jorge Fão (J.F.) – You don’t get job-satisfaction by working at the AL. At least that was my experience as a lawmaker! We are far from being able to say we have a real parliament, because it simply follows what our Executive’s will is. Moreover, if people are not elected by universal suffrage, it is all too normal if each one follows its own interests. After 10 years, the AL remains the aegis of the Executive Council. There may be some changes, but it does not make much difference. That’s why I stepped down from the AL.

MDT – You have said before in an interview that the AL doesn’t have enough powers to become more active…

J.F. – Precisely. And why is that? During my term as a lawmaker, I put my signature on the great majority of AL’s projects, but there were only a few which managed to pass. Why? Because our fellow lawmakers let us down.

MDT – Would the revision of the Basic Law be a solution to the AL’s problems?

J.F. – It could add some changes, but then it takes people to change their mindset. Both local leaders are from mainland China. Until 2049, however, I’m not so sure that will happen. In China, things are changing. But if there are no major changes happening in China, Macau won’t take steps by itself. Here, in Macau, people are much more obedient, peaceful and harmonious.

MDT – Regarding the political reform, can Macau think about democracy before having a more dynamic and gutsy AL?

J.F. – Macau’s process of political reform is depending a lot on Hong Kong’s. However, Hong Kong has been working on it for a long time and has a very strong critical masse, unlike Macau. This is the Portuguese Administration’s fault. It has never taken care of creating a critical masse in Macau.

MDT – Are Macau people well prepared to elect their Government?

J.F. – I don’t think so. Although the Commission against Corruption (CCAC) is doing a good job to tackle the problem of electoral corruption, we know perfectly well that it still exists. You don’t have to be a wonk to know what is going on behind the scenes. In the system “one person, one vote”, the candidate that has more money will always win. This system is not the best for Macau.

MDT – You were one of Fernando Chui Sai On’s supporters at the time of his candidature for Chief Executive. Is he doing a good job?

J.F. – I was one of the first people to announce support to Fernando Chui Sai On. In 2003, in an interview, I named him as one of Edmund Ho’s successors. It would be unfair to him if I make an evaluation after only six months of governance. What I can say is that the short period that he has served as Chief Executive, he has shown a willingness to serve Macau and has made some changes. Just look at some changes he has made on some services’ heads and at the visit he has made to Portugal, the first country outside of China. I don’t regret having supported and voted for him. Much has been said against him in the past, but those are the same people that are now saying: “So far, so good”.

MDT – You have strong connections to the pensioners’ association APOMAC. What do you think of the proposed Social Security System?

J.F. – I have not followed very closely the makings of that law. Still, I think it should cover all areas and professions, once Macau is enjoying a wealthy situation. A social security system is very important to acknowledge the contribution of the retirees towards society. However, we must take into consideration what has happened recently with the Social Security Fund (FSS). Operators showed that they don’t know how to deal in order to honour their leaders. This entire situation was very poorly conducted and I criticised the head of the FSS. The FSS president has not taken good care of the whole situation and forced the Chief Executive to publicly apologise, which is a sad situation. Having goodwill is not enough when setting up a social security system. The Government should work on all structures, in order to make things work out well.

MDT – The two local civil servants’ associations have been calling for pay rises and say that workers’ morale is down. As a former ATFPM president, do you agree with these claims?

J.F. – I do not agree that the morale of civil servants is down. Besides, the problem has nothing to do with the front line workers’ salaries, but with the top leaders of each service, whose wages are very low. The Government should increase the salary range, which is pretty tight. As a result, if the top echelon’s salaries are not increased, it is not possible to do the same in the lower echelons. Let’s say that if a secretary for the Government earns MOP 100,000 or so, a director should only earn less MOP 20,000 of that value. Compared with the private sector, the Administration’s leaders earn very low salaries.