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Presidential election 2008: 19 days to go: Ma promises that he would boost the cultural sector

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) vowed yesterday to turn strengthen the nation's cultural sector in the next eight years if he is elected.

Addressing a group of supporters from cultural and academic circles, Ma vowed to establish a "ministry of culture and tourism" within one year if he becomes president.

"I will also set up a NT$30 billion [US$970 million] tourism industry development fund to help local governments improve their tourism facilities," he said.

Ma said he would also invite specialists from the cultural and educational sectors to attend an annual "presidential cultural forum" to ensure that cultural policies are carried out at all levels.

He said Taiwan could increase its capability to defend itself by improving its "soft power" in the cultural, economic and tourism sectors.

He also vowed to reform the educational system and increase government spending on education by about NT$24 billion annually.

"The money will be spent on granting free education to children aged five and free education for vocational high school students," he said.

He said the money could also be spent on reducing the size of classes in junior-high and senior high schools, which would in turn create job opportunities for teachers and help ensure the quality of junior-high and senior high education.

Important cultural and educational figures who attended the gathering yesterday included Chen Sheng-fu (陳勝福), the producer and troupe leader of the Ming Hua Yuan Taiwanese Opera, former president of National Taiwan University Sun Chen (孫震), former minister of education Kuo Wei-fan (郭為藩) and artist Li Chi-mao (李奇茂).

At a separate campaign event later yesterday, Ma also promised to preserve Aboriginal culture and languages if elected president.

Joined by representatives from Aboriginal tribes, Ma vowed to propose an NT$50 billion budget within four years to improve the "homeland of the Aborigines" by pushing for water and soil conservation.
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