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Cabinet meets top KMT body

Accompanied by Premier Liu Chao-shiuan, second right, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, second left, speaks at a KMT Central Standing Committee meeting in Taipei yesterday, calling on party members to support the Cabinet.  PHOTO: CNA

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) led members of his Cabinet in explaining government policies to the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) highest decision-making body yesterday, seeking to strengthen communication with the KMT’s Central Standing Committee.

KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) took the occasion to call on party members to support the Cabinet and refrain from criticizing the administration in front of reporters.

At a dinner gathering hosted by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) with KMT legislators in attendance on Tuesday night, Liu reportedly complained that the media have been negative about the government’s performance and that KMT legislators have failed to defend the Cabinet before journalists.

“This is an extremely difficult time for the country ... Party members can make suggestions in private [but should] avoid saying things that would only make our enemies happy,” Wu told the committee at the KMT headquarters yesterday.

Wu urged party members to spare no efforts in assisting Ma’s administration, as the KMT’s reputation would suffer if the government failed to meet public expectations.

The KMT will invite Ma, Liu and other Cabinet members to participate in a forum on legislative affairs today. Wu said the party and government would work closely to strengthen the administration’s performance, but added that the KMT would not meddle with the government’s policies.

“The party and the government are not separate, but at the same time, we will establish a party-state relationship that meets public expectations,” he said.

Accompanied by Minister of Finance Lee Sush-der (李述德), Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) and other ministers, Liu explained the government’s strategies on a variety of issues, from dealing with the damage wrought by Typhoon Sinlaku to protecting consumers from toxic milk powder from China and minimizing the impact of US investment house Lehman Brothers’ collapse.

The premier pledged to end the economic crisis by relaxing investment regulations.

Liu said the country had survived the Asian financial crisis and the oil crisis under a KMT government and that the Cabinet had the confidence to steer the country through the global financial crisis and improve the domestic economy.

The premier also urged the legislature to pass the general budget bill during this session.

He promised to listen to public opinion and said all branches of government would do so before finalizing any policies.
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