Movie-star-turned-political-advisor counters public barrage

A local Chinese political advisor, thrown into the spotlight over her background starring in softcore porn movies, has asked the public to judge her based not on her past but on her performance in coming years.

"For the past three days, I've attended the annual session on time and carefully taken notes about other advisors' proposals, despite the fact that I should be busy promoting my upcoming film and TV series," Peng Dan told Xinhua on Friday after suspicion spread online over the legitimacy of her political role.

An actress who used to star in Hong Kong's softcore porn movies, or "Category III" films according to Hong Kong's motion picture rating system, Peng was given a seat at the ongoing Gansu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

More than 300,000 comments about Peng's appointment have been posted on Twitter-like Sina Weibo since the news broke on Tuesday.

Many web users said Peng's past experience in such movies means it is inappropriate for her to participate in the country's political process.

"The annual political should be very serious. It's not a gala packed with movie and sports stars or the nouveau riche," said a netizen with the screen name "Kunlunlin."

On her microblog, Peng asked web users to assess her political work in the next five years before they rush to deem her incompetent.

She urged people not to stereotype her, pointing out she had starred in different types of movies, including more than 30 films on Chinese revolutionary history.

"I understand people who do not know me think I became a political advisor only for show, but actually I see it a huge responsibility," said Peng, adding that she considered the annual session a learning opportunity.

She said she was moved when listening to speeches by the secretary of the Gansu Provincial Party Committee and the chairman of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the CPPCC.

Others have raised suspicions that she got the position because of her fame or money instead of a political commitment.

The United Front Work Department under the Gansu Provincial Party Committee responded on Friday to the controversy.

Peng was nominated by the Central Committee of China Zhi Gong Party on the basis of her starring in patriotic movies. The nomination was then approved on the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the 10th Gansu Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, sources from the department said.

She was one of the 19 political advisors legitimately elected from the culture and arts sector, according to the sources.

Chinese also questioned the political advisory body for electing a movie star who was not born in Gansu, and worried over her lack of knowledge on the province.

"How can a star surrounded by bodyguards all the time get a chance to be close to common people and understand their life difficulties?" said web user Zhang Ouya.

People like Zhang doubted she could voice local society's needs.

To reassure them, Peng told Xinhua that her attachment to Gansu started in 1999 when she starred in the film "Driving Train to Beijing." The attachment has since strengthened as she visits the province frequently.

"I've visited cities across the province like Lanzhou, Wuwei and Tianshui, and I'm familiar with local culture and customs," she said.

Ma Qixin, president of the Federation of Social Sciences Circle in Qingyang City, also leapt to her defence. "Even locals cannot say they know Gansu from every aspect," according to Ma. "Peng will be a competent stakeholder as she cares about the local society."

Experts said the CPPCC is an occasion for people from all walks of life to speak out freely on the country's politics, so Peng should not be excluded simply because of her background.

"People should focus on what she is doing and what she can do in the future to help advance Gansu's social and economic development," said Zhang Quanren, professor at the Party School with the Gansu Provincial Party Committee.

Peng's fellow advisors and staff at the conference said she has been performing her role very seriously.

"She has been making constructive suggestions during the session. She is competent because she is wholeheartedly concerned with the place," said Ma Qixin.

Peng proposes to establish a film operation base in Gansu to create more job opportunities and help drive the local economy.

The election as political officers of other movie stars, such as Hong Kong comedy actor Stephen Chow and pianist Li Yundi, similarly drew people's suspicions.

"It is a new media era in which communication and information sharing are utterly convenient. People are more outspoken now about their own interests, which is why they have increasing doubts about the competence of stars-turned-advisors," said an academic from the Gansu Provincial Academy of Social Sciences wishing to be referred to as professor Bao.

Some experts and netizens believe imperfect selection procedures have allowed the public to doubt delegates' abilities to live up their commitment to the people.

"People will trust the delegates more if the procedure becomes more transparent," according to Xiao Bin, professor at Sun Yat-sen University's School of Government.