Ma dismisses calls over revamping Cabinet

Ma made the remarks when attending with Vice President Vincent Siew a luncheon hosted at the Taipei Guest House by reporters assigned to cover news about the Presidential Office. The question concerning a possible reorganization of the Cabinet team was sparked by Shen Fu-hsiung who formerly served as a legislator of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Shen suggested the replacement of some Cabinet officials, saying they are “decent people” yet to learn how to “swim with alligators” in Taiwan’s bizarre political environment.

Regarded as one of the most eloquent political figures in Taiwan, Shen opined that the incumbent officials possess superb capability but have been incapable of being “street smart” to communicate with the people in down-to-earth daily-life language.

Most people also have the impression that some Cabinet officials were too candid when they told reporters the truth that there is no overnight wonder cure for all the problems accumulated in the past eight years.

Voicing his opposition to the suggestion of a personnel reshuffle, Ma gave the journalists a recount of the concrete accomplishments of the Cabinet led by Premier Liu Chao-shiuan.

Ma explained that the new administration is forced to rectify the host of aberrant polices and measures implemented by the preceding government.

He implied that is a tough challenge to correct the direction of a giant ship on the wrong course.

For one thing, Liu’s decision to lift the freeze on fuel prices imposed by the former DPP administration was a decisive bold move despite its unpopularity, he said.

The swift move has effectively cut down on oil consumption and improved energy efficiency, he continued, not to mention the elimination of anticipated inflation and possible casualties as countless people attempted to hoard highly inflammable gasoline at home.

Ma said the Cabinet has encountered unprecedented difficulties induced by the slew of problems both in Taiwan and the international arena.

When all governments around the world have come under the tightening squeeze of skyrocketing crude oil and commodity prices, Taiwan has performed comparatively well in coping with the problems.

The Cabinet has successfully implemented the direct charter flights for passengers across the Taiwan Straits, a common wish of the people who make more than 4 million trips to China each year but were forced to take detours via a third destination with extra costs and time.

The imminent arrival of mainland Chinese tourists to rectify the lopsided cross-strait travel is set for launch in the coming week.

Heeding the calls of the business community, Ma said the Cabinet is speeding up the action of removing the restrictions on investment in China to help Taiwan-based enterprises grow into more competitive international business entities.

The restoration of the Control Yuan is one of the major moves of the government to eradicate corruption to ensure fair play and social justice, Ma said.

The president said he fully understands local stock investors, although the inflation rate and the drop of the Taiwan share prices are comparatively milder than in most neighboring nations.

Ma called for patience and confidence in the Cabinet team members who have been working hard to remedy the twisted policies of the past and chart out a new path for the people.

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