Minister of the Central Personnel Administration (CPA) Chen Ching-hsiu (陳清秀) said yesterday that his office would draft vacation regulations for the head of state.
The issue of whether President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should take vacations came under discussion following a Chinese-language United Daily News report that said Ma had not taken a single day off since he was inaugurated on May 20.
Chen said that personally, he thinks Ma should take at least one day off per month and that he should have at least seven paid days off per year in line with other civil servants.
The CPA will take presidential leave records of various nations into consideration when drafting the regulations, Chen said, adding that the CPA and the Ministry of Civil Service had met on Monday and decided to build a system governing leave and holidays for the head of state.
“We will take all kinds of plans into consideration and do not exclude the possibility of building a presidential retreat, such as the US presidents’ Camp David,” he said.
Camp David, established in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland in 1942, is a private, secluded place for recreation, contemplation, rest and relaxation for US presidents.
Chen said the CPA had reached a consensus with the Ministry of Civil Service on formulating regulations for presidential vacations during the two agencies’ regular meeting on Monday.
Presidential Office Spokeswoman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said yesterday that Ma was not in the mood to take vacations because of the economic situation.
However, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) said she would like to see Ma take some time off as he often looked tired in media pictures.
Disapproving of the CPA’s plan, Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) slammed Chen for fawning on Ma, saying that Chen was oblivious to the hardships of ordinary people.
“It’s ironic that while most people are concerned about jobs and how to get by on reduced incomes, the officials appointed by Ma are concerned with how to let him take vacations,” Lai said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
The Central Weather Administration at 5:30am today issued a land warning for Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan from this evening through tomorrow. As of 8am, the eye of Bavi was about 700km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point, and was moving northwest at 25kph, the CWA said. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 162kph, with gusts of up to 198kph, the weather agency said, adding that Bavi had a storm radius of about 380km. Rainfall is expected to increase in mountainous areas of northern, central and southern Taiwan later today, with the heaviest
Taiwan tied for first with five golds at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in Colombia this year, showcasing high school physics prowess. The team, led by National Taiwan Normal University physics professor Chen Chuan-Ren (陳傳仁), was represented by five students, who were chosen from 2,361 students nationwide via multiple selections to receive pre-competition training. Competing with 381 participants from 91 countries, all five students won a gold medal for Taiwan. Other countries earning five golds included China, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Russia. One of the five Taiwanese, Chien Kuo High School (CKHS) student Wu Ssu-chien (吳思謙) said he has enjoyed studying
WIDESPREAD CANCELATIONS: Airline and ferry operators have canceled a number of journeys following the issue of a sea warning, with a land warning also expected today Airlines and ferry operators yesterday announced widespread service changes as Typhoon Bavi approaches Taiwan, with authorities urging travelers to monitor updates and avoid nonessential trips to outlying islands. The Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Bavi at 2:30pm yesterday and is expected to issue a land warning early today if the typhoon maintains its projected path and speed. AIR TRAVEL Starlux Airlines said flights scheduled from yesterday through Sunday could be rescheduled or canceled, and urged passengers to check the latest flight information before heading to the airport. Tigerair Taiwan said due to safety concerns, yesterday’s IT232 Taoyuan-Naha and IT289 Naha-Kaohsiung flights
Beijing has been offering subsidized trips to China’s Xinjiang region for Taiwanese teachers as part of efforts to influence teachers and, indirectly, students, a government official said yesterday. With China subsidizing the trips, the teachers only need to pay a NT$4,000 registration fee for an eight-day, seven-night tour that includes accommodation and meals, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Participants risk having their personal information collected and their social networks monitored by Chinese authorities, the official said. Chinese authorities are offering separate summer exchange programs targeting Taiwanese teachers and students, with the student program including study-related activities, they
RSS