Independent Taipei mayor-elect Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday defended recent remarks he has made on policy ideas that have triggered controversies, saying that he made the remarks with the intention to spark discussion.
“People do suggest that I should not speak about policy ideas that are not yet mature, people tell me that everyday,” Ko told the media outside his office in Taipei. “They say that I should think everything through before speaking, since I am going to be mayor.”
“However, I actually would like there to be discussions on these policy ideas. If I’ve thought everything through, there would be no need for discussions then — that is against my idea of having an transparent and open government with public participation in policy planning,” he said.
Recently, Ko has sparked many controversies, including by proposing to build a railway line connecting Taipei and Yilan by the shortest possible route, even though such a route may pass through an environmentally sensitive area near Feitsui Reservoir (翡翠水庫), triggering his environment adviser Thomas Chan (詹順貴) to threaten to resign.
Ko also caused controversy by proposing to build a Mass Rapid Transit line to Keelung from Taipei’s Nangang District (南港), after a meeting with Keelung mayor-elect Lin Yu-chang (林右昌), as well as by saying that an expressway to Tamsui — which is opposed by environmental groups and the current Taipei City Government — is an option if the budget is available after a meeting with New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫).
As for Chan’s threat to resign, Ko said that Chan does not need to worry, “because we haven’t even started the dialogue.”
“This is why I do not like political doctrines. I am open to discussion, and we will see what comes out of our discussion,” Ko said. “What I said wasn’t the final decision.”
Meanwhile, commenting on the head of Taipei City Police Department, Ko said that he would like Police Commissioner Huang Sheng-yung (黃昇勇) to stay on, but Huang is going to retire soon.
“Well, I will just wait to see what the National Police Agency says about it,” he said.
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