Premier-designate Yu Shyi-kun spent his last weekend before taking office dining with Cabinet members yesterday and discussing the details of a joint pledge in which team spirit, efficiency and frugality will be emphasized.
In addition, a crash course for incoming Cabinet members has been scheduled for Thursday. Old and new members have been invited to participate in the program, in which government officials will familiarize themselves with their jobs and learn how to deal with lawmakers and the media.
Yu ate lunch and dinner yesterday with two groups of newly appointed Cabinet members at the Armed Forces Officer's Club.
Chuang Suo-hang (
"It's a warm-up for the big day," Chuang said.
The incoming Cabinet members also exchanged views on the joint pledge, an idea brought up by Yu, Chuang said.
"The purpose of the joint pledge is to commit oneself to do the utmost to continue political reforms, increase administrative efficiency and practice frugality," Chuang quoted Yu as saying.
Chuang also said that the pledge was designed to show the public that the new Cabinet is determined to accomplish the goals and work as a team for the best interests of the nation.
"The premier emphasized that each and every `combative Cabinet' member should work as a team and do their best to accomplish the missions," Chuang said.
In explaining the definition of a "combative Cabinet," Chuang quoted Yu as saying that the term means the new Cabinet will face challenges courageously and take the initiative to identify problems and solve them without hesitation.
Yu appointed the 39 members of the "combative Cabinet" between Jan. 21 and Jan. 24. Eight of them are women and 16 are holdovers from the previous Cabinet. The average age of the new Cabinet members is 53 years old.
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