President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday endorsed Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Secretary-General King Pu-tsung’s (金溥聰) involvement in shaping government policies, brushing off concerns about the KMT’s growing control over the administration.
Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, said in an interview with the Taipei Times that King was “reflecting public opinion” when he called Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister Stephen Shen (沈世宏) last Thursday to express concern over the EPA’s plan to fine people who smoke while walking or driving, arguing that it was proper for King to communicate with officials to make a policy comprehensive.
“It is perfectly right and proper for King to use the party-administration platform for communication and policy coordination with government officials,” Ma said.
Ma said King had originally called Executive Yuan Secretary-General Lin Join-sane (林中森) to discuss the EPA’s proposal, but Lin handed the telephone to Shen, who was in Lin’s office at the time. King also called Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), suggesting that the executive branch should consider public complaints about the proposal before turning it into policy.
“[King] should convey public complaints to the government when he hears those opinions, and he conveyed public opinion via the proper channel by telling it to the Executive Yuan’s secretary-general. What’s wrong with that?” Ma asked.
Ma denied that King had meddled in the EPA proposal when asked about the EPA’s prompt decision to postpone the proposed ban on smoking while walking or driving, as opposed to following due procedure by taking the matter to the premier for discussion and awaiting further instruction. Ma added that the Executive Yuan still had the authority to finalize the proposed policy.
Ma said the party and the government should work together to address public concerns and prevent the government from presenting policies that only cause more public grievance.
Ma also sought to justify the KMT’s influence over legislative and administrative affairs.
“Political parties are election machines to help members hold on to the reins of government. In modern society, however, it is also important for a political party to be involved in legislative affairs and policy coordination after coming into power,” he said.
To seek better performance in the upcoming legislative by-elections next month, the KMT arranged nationwide tours for Ma starting tomorrow and on Sunday.
Ma is scheduled to visit local members in Chiayi and Hualien counties tomorrow and on Sunday, where the by-elections will be held.
He will visit Taoyuan and Hsinchu counties after returning from a state visit to Latin American allies from Monday to next Saturday, the KMT said.
At a separate setting yesterday, KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) told reporters that Ma appeared to be more energetic and passionate during the party’s meetings or when gathering with KMT legislators, possibly because “Ma now enjoys the company of his good friend [KMT Secretary-General] King.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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