Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators complained about the “arrogance” of the government during a gathering with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday, singling out the National Security Council (NSC) in particular.
KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) told reporters after the gathering that she complained to Ma personally about the impertinence of government agencies.
“[The NSC] is very arrogant. For example, during the controversy over US beef imports, the council was overbearing when the legislature’s Finance Committee questioned it during the committee’s review of the NSC’s budget request,” Lo said.
Many other government branches also turned a deaf ear to legislators’ suggestions and public petitions, she said.
“[The government] seems to disregard people’s complaints. The government’s arrogance has made it impossible for government officials to touch the hearts of people with low and middle incomes. This is the most serious problem we are facing now,” Lo said.
KMT Legislator Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) said she also spoke her mind during the gathering, complaining about the Ma administration’s poor communication skills and lack of emotional quotient (“EQ”) in particular.
“[The government] often fails to clearly elaborate its policy while causing public misunderstanding,” Chu said.
Ma spent hours meeting a group of KMT lawmakers yesterday — one day before the legislature is to decide whether to hold a provisional session to deal with a controversial amendment to the Local Government Act (地方制度法).
Meetings with other KMT lawmakers have also been scheduled for this week.
Last Monday, Ma held a banquet with KMT legislators but at the time legislators followed the suggestion from KMT Legislator Hsu Yao-chang (徐耀昌) not to talk about politics over the dinner table.
Lo said Ma expressed concern for the proposed amendment as well as the government’s plan to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China. She said Ma stressed the need to sign the agreement this year, but she said she complained about the government’s inability to clarify the nature of the ECFA.
Other KMT legislators said Ma agreed with KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung’s (金溥聰) decision to call Minister of Environmental Protection Stephen Shen (沈世宏) to express opposition to the ministry’s plan to fine those who smoke while walking or driving. KMT legislators said Ma told them the government would not implement the policy.
King sparked a controversy by calling Shen on Thursday to voice concern about the planned policy.
At a separate setting, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) rebutted Democratic Progressive Party criticism that King had infringed upon the premier’s authority.
“If secretary-general of the ruling party cannot express the public’s concern [to the Executive Yuan], does that mean the public should all shut up?” Wu told reporters in Taoyuan.
Wu said it was impossible for King to interfere with the his authority because “I am the one who can decide whether to pass a certain proposal [during the Executive Yuan’s meeting].”
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