Sze Lee Ah, who chairs the Macau Citizens Federation, says his electoral group Citizens Power (No. 12 on the ballot) is proposing the cancellation of voter registration and the introduction of free public tertiary education.
Sze, a Fujianese businessman, is the first-ranked candidate of the group while Joana Chong, who works in the real estate sector, is the second-ranked candidate. Sze’s list comprises 11 candidates.
Speaking to The Macau Post Daily earlier this week at the federation’s office in Iao Hon district, Sze said his group thought it was unnecessary to require citizens to register to vote. He said cancelling the requirement could encourage more young people to vote.
According to official figures, registered voters aged from 17 to 29 accounted for about 16 percent of the total while those aged from 50 accounted for about 53 percent at the end of last year.
Sze said: “Young people are always considered to be politically apathetic. [Don’t you think] it’s true that [the government] has to give them more opportunities to participate in the elections?” he asked rhetorically
Pointing out that the government usually enjoys a fiscal surplus, Sze said his group was also proposing free public tertiary education in order to raise young people’s competitiveness.
Sze was the official representative of lawmaker Chan Meng Kam’s list in the last election four years ago and one of the candidates in Chan’s list eight years ago.
Sze admitted that he had had the idea of running on a separate list from Chan’s in the direct legislative election four years ago. “Chan has done very much for society. Everyone respects him….[I] just think it’s the right time to run in the election [with my own group],” he said.
Asked by The Macau Post Daily if he had any conflict with Chan, Sze said: “Of course not!”
An image of Sze’s face superimposed on the famous portrait of Che Guevara can be seen on his campaign posters and flyers. He wore a military-style camouflage outfit when he put up his group’s campaign poster in Praça do Tap Seac.
Sze said he thought Che Guevara was many young people’s idol around the world in the 1960s, adding that the revolutionary guerrilla leader deserved his group’s respect. Consequently, Sze said, he decided to “borrow” Che Guevara’s image and will wear his camouflage outfit during the election campaign.
Candidate Sze Lee Ah (centre), Joana Chong (left) and Chan Tak Su pose on Tuesday at the Macau Citizens Federation’s office in Iao Hon district. Photo: Debby Seng
