In the wake of the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) defeat in the Kaohsiung mayoral election, the party has arranged for Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
Returning from a two-day trip to Miaoli County, Ma yesterday pledged to place more importance on listening to local voices and incorporating grassroots demands in the party's policies.
"I hope that I can visit all the places I've never been to before, and listen to the locals' voices and their demands. I will incorporate their needs in our party policies," the KMT chairman said after casting his vote in the Taipei borough warden election.
PHOTO: YANG CHIEN-HUI, TAIPEI TIMES
After a brief stay in Taipei City, Ma is scheduled to make a trip to Kaohsiung and Hengchun today.
KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (
Besides visiting party heavyweights and grassroots members in the KMT's local branches, Chan said it was equally important for Ma to visit cities and counties that are not ruled by the KMT.
Instead of making brief stops, Chan said that Ma would stay overnight in several cities and counties, allowing the chairman to have a deeper understanding of the local culture.
During his stay in Miaoli County yesterday morning, Ma paid a visit to Sanyi Township, which is famous for its wood sculpture. Ma painted a wooden decoy duck in the colors of the national flag and wrote "Taiwan Duck" on it.
"The KMT will listen to local voices, and there will be more trips like this for me to meet the people," he said.
Meanwhile, after handing over the Taipei mayorship to his successor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) on Monday, Ma will for the first time attend the New Year's Day national flag-raising ceremony -- to be held in front of the Presidential Office -- in his capacity as KMT chairman.
KMT Spokesman Huang Yu-cheng (黃玉振) said that party officials would gather at the old KMT headquarters; Ma would then lead party members to the ceremony.
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