Political advice is serious business

Of course, the celebrities, no matter from Hong Kong or the mainland, have to fulfill their duties. Experience tells us that people who excel in the entertainment industry, sports fields or business are not necessarily good political advisers.

A political adviser has to spend a lot of time perusing reports and records, and investigating events, as well as keeping himself abreast of news and current affairs to come up with practical and helpful proposals.

No wonder, people are asking how can celebrities, given their tight schedules, take time out to play the role of a constructive political adviser. And Chow's absence from the opening session of the Guangdong advisory body's conference has lent credence to their view.

Many entertainment and sports stars have been made members of the national as well as local political advisory bodies. They include filmmakers Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang, actress Gong Li, TV anchor Ni Ping, skit star Zhao Benshan and 2004 Olympic 110m hurdle champion Liu Xiang.

But despite their outstanding achievements in their respective fields, their selection as political advisers have created controversies. Indeed, some of them have failed to fulfill their responsibilities.

The absence of Liu Xiang from four annual sessions of the national committee of the country's top political advisory body sparked a fierce online debate, with many netizens seeking his disqualification as as a member.

Ni Ping evoked a public uproar at the 2011 annual session of the top advisory body by saying: "I love my country, so I has never cast a negative or abstention vote".

Some people interpreted her remarks as incompetent, while others said she should be disqualified as a political adviser.

Other cases can be cited to show how incompetent some celebrities-turned-advisers have been. Their frequent absence from important advisory body meetings and their inability to come up with good proposals have undermined their position.

Since people are becoming increasingly sensitive to celebrities, China's political advisory bodies, both national and local, should remove incompetent members and offer the limited seats to more people who can really read public opinion and submit good, workable proposals for national and local development.

The author is a writer with China Daily. wuyixue@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 01/24/2013 page9)