MACAU : The bishop of Macau is rallying Catholic government officials to tackle corruption, which emerged as the key concern in a recent poll.The Catholic-run Macau Inter-University Institute (IIUM) survey found that nearly a third of respondents thought corruption had worsened in the past 10 years.

It was the chief concern among the 15 topics that people were asked to respond to in the survey, which aimed to measure Macau residents' quality of life. The second highest concern was unemployment with 26 percent believing it was a worse problem now than a decade ago.

Bishop Jose Lai Hung-seng told UCA News he would contact high-ranking officials who are Catholics to express his concerns, noting that as officials, they are involved in public decision-making and formulating government policies.

He said he will also instruct parishes, catechism classes and Catholic schools to strengthen their teaching of Catholic social principles.

Richard Whitfield, principle researcher of the "Quality of Life Report" survey, told UCA News that the Macau government needs to heed community demands for open and transparent governance.

The authorities should investigate allegations that government officials take advantage of their positions for monetary gain and launch an education program for them.

There have been a series of high-profile corruption cases recently.

In April this year, the former secretary for transportation Ao Man-long was sentenced to 27 years' imprisonment for taking bribes amounting to 804 million patacas (US$102 million) while in office.

Media also reported on several other allegations of government officials transferring benefits to business companies in public projects and through land selling in recent years.

The "Observatorio De Macau", a weekly newspaper published by the Lay Catholic Association of Macau, in its Nov. 8 issue drew attention to a controversial land transaction.

A 442,200-square-meter plot of land in Taipa was sold to an affiliate of a casino operator for 2.92 billion patacas without going through the process of public bidding in October.

In comparison, the weekly reported that two pieces of land, totaling just 4,700 square meters and located in less prime areas, were sold for a total of 1.41 billion patacas last year.

Legislator Paul Chan Wai-chi, director of the weekly, together with other legislators submitted a motion on Nov. 12 to hear the controversial case. This was rejected.

Chan told UCA News he will hold a rally against corruption on Dec. 20, the 10th anniversary of Macau's handover by Portugal to China.

Courtesy : UCAN