The Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) held a media forum yesterday to remind local reporters to pay attention to their work on the eve of and on election day, and CAEAL President Seng Ioi Man said in his opening remarks of the forum that the Macau media has consistently upheld professionalism, objectivity and impartiality in reporting, aligning with the commission’s commitment to a fair election and equal treatment of all candidates, adding the commission expects to cooperate with the media to ensure election fairness.
The forum took place at the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau’s (SAFP) Public Servants Training Centre in Nape, with the participation of Chinese-, Portuguese- and English-language media representatives. A number of representatives raised their concerns at the meeting, focusing on how to do their job as journalists via-a-vis the official ban of electioneering on the eve of and on polling day, as stipulated in the Law on the Legislative Assembly Election.
The quadrennial Legislative Assembly (AL) poll, which consists of direct and indirect elections, has been scheduled for September 14 this year, marking its eighth election in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and the first following the amendments to the Law on the Legislative Assembly Election. This year’s election campaign period will start on August 30 and end on September 12. No campaigning is allowed on the eve of and on polling day.
In his remarks prior to the closed-door forum, lasting for about an hour, Seng emphasised the media’s role as a bridge connecting various sectors of the community, highlighting the importance of news reporting for the public in obtaining information and for ensuring that the election campaign is conducted smoothly in a lawful, fair, just, and honest environment. He said: “The commission attaches great importance to the role of the media and holds press freedom in high regard”.
Seng also remarked that news reporting differs to election campaign publicity and expressed confidence in the media’s professional ability to make this distinction, reminding the media about the clear legal definitions regarding such publicity, which, as in the past, requires that electioneering materials should be removed or deleted before the commencement of the two-day ban on campaign publicity, which starts one day before election day.
By law, Macau’s legislative elections are always to be held on a Sunday, while the day before is informally known as “cooling-off day”.
He clarified the distinction between news reporting and electioneering, noting that media activities related to electioneering are considered news reporting as long as they objectively present the candidates in accordance with journalistic standards and uphold the public’s right to know, underlining that the media can interview candidates on the eve of and on polling day about current affairs and livelihood issues in line with their social status and relevant duties, but should refrain from involving themselves in electioneering matters.
Seng said that the media may retain news coverage involving electioneering activities on their online platforms, but recommended that such coverage be avoided on September 13 and 14 by not placing it in a prominent position, warning members of the public against forwarding any relevant online news from the media on those two days, otherwise, they may be regarded as violating the law.
‘This election is of great significance’
In a group interview after the forum, Seng stressed that “this election is of great significance,” being the first election following last year’s amendments to the Legislative Assembly Election Law, which have further implemented the principle of “patriots governing Macau”, noting that the commission is “actively and orderly” advancing the election procedures and hopes to disseminate relevant information to the community through the media.
However, he was quick to add that the amended law does not introduce significant changes to the conditions directly related to the work of the media, but only those concerning commercial advertising.
Meanwhile, the commission will hold a briefing session on March 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Macau Science Centre in Nape. Registration opens to residents today via their Macao One Account or in person at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo during office hours.
Local media representatives attend yesterday’s forum organised by the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission at the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau’s (SAFP) Public Servants Training Centre in Nape. CAEAL President Seng Ioi Man (fourth from left) chaired the forum.
