Macau Civic Power (ECM) Chairwoman Agnes Lam Iok Fong said yesterday that the government’s systemic problems in policy implementation, especially in its “ineffective” consultation system, had caused residents to suffer politics participation “fatigue”.
Lam, the assistant dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Macau (UM) where she teaches media studies, made the remarks at a roundtable discussion held by ECM in the Art Garden in Nape.
The group hosts monthly roundtable discussions on a variety of topics. Yesterday’s discussion was about the government’s perceived systemic problems in policy implementation as reflected by recent controversial issues such as the Transport Bureau’s (DSAT) steep increase in vehicle-related fees and charges which was announced on New Year’s Eve and took effect the following day.
Lam said residents’ opinions often could not reach the government in an effective or impactful way, which led to reluctance to participate in politics. “But this doesn’t mean that people don’t care at all,” she was quick to add.
Central Districts Community Service Consultative Council member Ron Lam U Tou (right) addresses yesterday’s roundtable discussion held by Macau Civic Power (ECM) at the Art Garden in Nape, while cultural commentator Pan Lei Chin Pang (second from right), eco-activist Joe Chan Chon Meng (centre) and ECM Chairwoman Agnes Lam Iok Fong (second from left) look on.
Photo: Annie Cheung
