Groups to protest Jinan donation on Sunday

Jinan University Macao Alumni Association posted a statement in at least nine local Chinese language newspapers yesterday backing Macao Foundation’s 100 million yuan (MOP123 million/US$15.4 million) donation to its Guangzhou-based alma mater, whilst at least four local activist groups announced protests for this Sunday urging the withdrawal of the donation.
Local pan-democratic group New Macau Association announced yesterday that it would stage a demonstration against the donation from Tac Seac Square to the lawn in front of the Legislative Assembly Building at three o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday.
The group queries the absence of beneficial treatment and regarding the donation of the Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On transferring benefits ‘to himself’, as the top official. Serving as the president of the trustees’ council of Macao Foundation, he has also been a vice chairman on the board of Jinan University since 2010.
According to an announcement by New Macau, the demands for the Sunday rally would be the same as those for its petition on the same issue started last Friday which urges the SAR Government to rescind the donation, for the top official to resign, and to give legislators the power to review every grant for public projects that exceeds a certain amount.
Love Macau to rally, too
In addition, another local group – Love Macau Association – headed by gaming-labour activist Cloee Chao is also staging a protest this Sunday against the donation.
“Our rally will start at 3:00pm on Sunday from Tac Seac Square [and proceed] to Government Headquarters. There will be eight other associations joining us,” Ms. Chao told Business Daily in a phone interview yesterday.
The Association submitted a petition to the Chief Executive yesterday, urging the official to withdraw the significant donation.
“This donation reveals the government’s under-the-table operations and the situation of officials colluding with businessmen despite it being promoted as a transparent administration body,” the female activist told us, adding details of the protest would be announced today or tomorrow.
Two other groups – the Bar-Bending Workers’ Association and Democratic Action, which both petitioned to Macao Foundation yesterday, are also planning for protests on the coming Sunday.
Last Wednesday, Jinan University announced that it had received a donation from the SAR Government worth 100 million yuan for the university’s two dormitories, which soon drew the public’s ire on the transparency of the Foundation’s grant of subsidies, as well as the Chief Executive’s integrity in avoiding conflicts of interest.
The Government Spokesperson’s Office and Macao Foundation have both denied the allegations of transferring benefit to the Mainland institute last Saturday, stressing the donation is for cultivating local talent and would benefit Macau itself, in addition to urging the public to view the donation rationally.
Alumni group agrees with donation
Meanwhile, Jinan University Macao Alumni Association said in a statement in newspapers yesterday that the University’s application to Macao Foundation for the 100-million yuan donation meets the Foundation’s regulated procedures on granting subsidies.
‘As an alumni association, we fully support the SAR Government cultivating talent, as well as its principle of supporting education,’ it stated, adding the alumni group would establish a supervision group to oversee the use of the donation by the university.
The group’s statement was signed by six other local student associations of the University.
‘The alumni association hopes more measures benefiting Macau students can be implemented in the future by communications with the University,’ it wrote.
According to the Association, it claimed the amount of subsidies would be disbursed in two 50 million yuan instalments by Macao Foundation to the Mainland tertiary institute.
The group, chaired by local businessman Ma Iao Hang, held a press briefing on Sunday stating the group’s stance on the donation, as well.
In fact, Mr. Ma is one of the members of the trustees’ council of Macao Foundation that greenlighted the donation.
The alumni association said on Sunday that the two dormitories that the donation is supporting are for Hong Kong and Macau students in the institute’s Guangzhou campus and Panyu new campus. The two dormitories, providing a total of 896 rooms, would be completed next March and next July, respectively.
Secretary Tam: Donation reasonable
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng commented yesterday that the amount of the donation is reasonable as it serves as the city’s ‘salute’ to the University which has cultivated a great number of local students.
“After Jinan University has cultivated so much talent for the Special Administrative Region, to be frank, the 100 million yuan donation is not a high amount,” the Secretary told reporters on the sidelines of a public event yesterday.
“For example, if we set up our own medical college in Macau, it would cost at least MOP10 billion. As such, in my opinion, donating this 100 million yuan to the University for educating Macau talent is worth it,” the official said.