Acknowledging the impact of the Internet on young voters, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will soon set up a Facebook page to interact with netizens, the Presidential Office said.
Until then, Presidential Office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said the public could interact with him on Facebook.
Lo said he set up a Facebook page because traditional media outlets have their limits in space and target audience, and therefore cannot report the president’s thoughts fully. Sometimes comments are taken out of context, causing unnecessary misunderstanding and trouble, he said. However, there are no such restraints on the Internet and he can use the platform to promote Ma and his policy to full effect.
From now on, Lo said, he will share audio or video materials of the president as well as articles and government policies on a piecemeal basis so the public will know more about Ma.
Lo said he hoped the Facebook page would not be used for personal attacks or verbal abuse of Ma.
Lo did not say anything about whether the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) showing at last month’s five special municipality elections played any role in drawing Ma to the on-line social networking site. Democratic Progressive Party politicians have been active in engaging netizens on various online social networks. Some KMT supporters have expressed concern and called for the party to pay more attention to young voters, the vast majority of whom are Internet users.
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