Newsmakers: Mayor Ma is seeking re-election but he remains coy about presidential plans

DPP City Councilor Duan Yi-kang (段宜康) pointed out some of the problems with in Ma's governing style.

"Instead of being bold, adventurous and willing to take action, [Ma] appears to be rather conservative," Tuan said, adding that the majority of Ma's administrative officials have a bureaucracy-oriented attitude.

Duan said that the media's pampering of Ma "will be destructive in the long term to Ma himself and to society as a whole if he were to take the road to the presidency."

Duan was referring to general news coverage of Ma, who, as a media darling, often seems immune from criticism.

"If no one is there to stand up and point out faults that need correction," Tuan said, "neither progress or improvement will ever be made."