President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) top aide, Ma Yun-cheng (馬永成), who Chen's rivals call the "leader of the Boy Scouts," on Wednesday night held a wedding party at the Sheraton Hotel in Taipei.
The party was attended by the president and first lady Wu Shu-chen (
During her speech at the party, the first lady made fun of Ma's notorious romances: "No more fooling around or it will be difficult for you to hang around with the president any more," she joked.
Ma, a thin man in his 30s, listened obediently while Wu talked. Beside him sat his bride, Fan Tien-chen (范恬甄), a model-like tall woman that he has known for more than a decade. Those who joined the wedding -- including Vice President Annette Lu, (呂秀蓮) Premier Yu Hsi-kun and other political and business heavyweights -- roared with laughter at Wu's remarks.
Ma's ability to gather so many of Taiwan's most powerful people at his wedding reveals that the young man's political influence far exceeds his position as a secretary of the Presidential Office.
The south American tour
Let's switch to another scene. Ma went with President Chen to Central and South America last year. During the visit, Ma took a table at a corner and a diplomat's wife sent in a bowl of green-bean congee to him as soon as he sat down. The reporters made fun of him for the special treatment, he then replied with a mocking tone, "I only have four years to enjoy the treatment." The tenure of office of a Taiwan president is four years.
Ma was born in the year of the snake, 1965. He then obtained a BA in Politics from the National Taiwan University. When he was at college, he and DPP legislator Ro Wen-chia (羅文嘉) were both leaders of a students' movement. Ro was the first chief of the student association of NTU and Ma was the deputy.
After they finished their military service in 1991, they both joined then-lawmaker Chen Sui-bian's office at the Legislative Yuan.
Ro was Chen's spokesman and took charge of all propaganda and public relations issues; Ma, however, dealt with under-the-table political negotiations and personnel arrangements on behalf of Chen. Ro, embracing the attention of the media, was a star on the political stage, while Ma, stayed behind the curtain fighting subtle political wars. He brought in allies for Chen, tackled Chen's political antagonists, and even cultivated power resources and interests.
The most influential aide
Politicians and reporters named Ma "the most influential aide in Taiwan." Many of them admit that except for the first lady, Ma is the best person to go through to get to President Chen. Building a close relationship with Ma is the only way to get closer to the president.
"Except for his wife, Wu Shu-chen, Ma and Ro are the two guards of Chen Shui-bian's political life. Chen is a tutor to Ro and Ma, and he is also their friend," said DPP lawmaker Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) who is also a close friend of Chen's.
President Chen has had many ups and downs during his political career and Ma is one of his core followers.
In 1998, Chen failed in his bid to become mayor of Taipei for a second time. After Chen lost the election, Ro chose to go his own way, but Ma promised Chen that he would come back as soon as Chen needed him though he had planned to study in England. When Chen decided to run for the presidency in May, 1999, Ma immediately returned to Taiwan. After Chen won the election, Ma became the president's top aide.
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