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Ma endorses King’s policy involvement
NOT A MEDDLER: The president defended his party’s
secretary-general, saying it was necessary for modern political parties to
pursue communication with the government
By Mo Yan-chih
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Jan 22, 2010, Page 3
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday endorsed Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)
Secretary-General King Pu-tsung’s (金溥聰) involvement in shaping government
policies, brushing off concerns about the KMT’s growing control over the
administration.
Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, said in an interview with the Taipei Times that
King was “reflecting public opinion” when he called Environmental Protection
Administration (EPA) Minister Stephen Shen (沈世宏) last Thursday to express
concern over the EPA’s plan to fine people who smoke while walking or driving,
arguing that it was proper for King to communicate with officials to make a
policy comprehensive.
“It is perfectly right and proper for King to use the party-administration
platform for communication and policy coordination with government officials,”
Ma said.
Ma said King had originally called Executive Yuan Secretary-General Lin
Join-sane (林中森) to discuss the EPA’s proposal, but Lin handed the telephone to
Shen, who was in Lin’s office at the time. King also called Premier Wu Den-yih
(吳敦義), suggesting that the executive branch should consider public complaints
about the proposal before turning it into policy.
“[King] should convey public complaints to the government when he hears those
opinions, and he conveyed public opinion via the proper channel by telling it to
the Executive Yuan’s secretary-general. What’s wrong with that?” Ma asked.
Ma denied that King had meddled in the EPA proposal when asked about the EPA’s
prompt decision to postpone the proposed ban on smoking while walking or
driving, as opposed to following due procedure by taking the matter to the
premier for discussion and awaiting further instruction. Ma added that the
Executive Yuan still had the authority to finalize the proposed policy.
Ma said the party and the government should work together to address public
concerns and prevent the government from presenting policies that only cause
more public grievance.
Ma also sought to justify the KMT’s influence over legislative and
administrative affairs.
“Political parties are election machines to help members hold on to the reins of
government. In modern society, however, it is also important for a political
party to be involved in legislative affairs and policy coordination after coming
into power,” he said.
To seek better performance in the upcoming legislative by-elections next month,
the KMT arranged nationwide tours for Ma starting tomorrow and on Sunday.
Ma is scheduled to visit local members in Chiayi and Hualien counties tomorrow
and on Sunday, where the by-elections will be held.
He will visit Taoyuan and Hsinchu counties after returning from a state visit to
Latin American allies from Monday to next Saturday, the KMT said.
At a separate setting yesterday, KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) told reporters that
Ma appeared to be more energetic and passionate during the party’s meetings or
when gathering with KMT legislators, possibly because “Ma now enjoys the company
of his good friend [KMT Secretary-General] King.”
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