King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), a former top aide of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), yesterday took over as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) secretary-general, pledging to implement policies on party reform and improve the party’s reputation.
King, who returned from the US yesterday morning, received the official seal from his predecessor, Chan Chun-po (詹春柏), during a handover ceremony at the KMT’s Central Standing Committee, and said he would “talk less and do more” in face of the challenges confronting the party.
“I am taking over the heavy responsibility with caution ... I will try to make the KMT a better party so that the public will give more support to the KMT and more young people will identify with it,” he said.
Before the ceremony, King shook hands with committee members and invited party members to help him handle party affairs.
Presiding over the ceremony, Ma lauded King as a loyal KMT member and said he expected him to increase the competitiveness of the party to help it win future elections.
“The KMT is a team that depends on cooperation rather than an individual’s charisma. We must duplicate the successes of past elections,” Ma said. “The handover of secretary-general today is a great test for the party and we must spare no effort until we succeed.”
King, 54, played a major role in Ma’s previous campaigns, helping him win the Taipei mayoral elections in 1998 and 2001 and the presidential election last year.
Ma announced King’s appointment last Wednesday after the party suffered what has been perceived as a significant setback in local government elections on Dec. 5.
King’s first major task will be to organize the campaign for the special municipality elections next year.
He is also expected to help Ma resolve the party’s illegal assets — under the the Central Investment Co — which Ma has vowed to do by the end of the year.
Chan will continue to serve as KMT vice chairman and assist King with party affairs. Yesterday, he lauded King as a person with “determination” and said he expected King to push for party reform.
“The torch is passed from one generation to the next ... I think the timing is perfect for him to return to the party,” Chan said.
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