Taiwan
President Ma Ying-jeou on Monday voiced expectations for the newly sworn-in
Cabinet members, asking them to provide the public with a sense of security and
comfort and to issue the happiness index of the public yearly.
Former Premier Wu Den-yih had performed his
job well, Ma said yesterday. Wu had acted as a “premier with great mobility,”
exceeding the public's expectations on completing missions including the
reconstruction after Typhoon Morakot, preventing the spread of a new strain of
influenza, and reviving the economy. Wu's performance led him to have an
upstanding international reputation, the president said.
The newly appointed Premier Sean Chen and his
Cabinet members were well received by the public, Ma said, quoting a press survey
that indicated an overwhelming 56 per cent of positive support that the public
expressed toward the new Cabinet.
While rejoicing over the support, Ma related
solemn respect for the public's expectations, and promised that along with the
new Cabinet, he would make Taiwan an environment where its people feel safe,
comfortable, and worry-free.
His first expectation for the new Cabinet is
to minimize the potential impact that the European debt crisis might have on
Taiwan's economy, social welfare, and public safety. Also deserving special
attention is the negative effect the crisis may have on Taiwan's new graduates,
Ma said, pointing out that university students will graduate in June.
The government should balance maintaining
economic progress with upholding social justice, which is especially important
during periods of economic depression, a time when those in office are obliged
to take care of low-income households, disabled people, and single-parent
households, the president emphasized.
The second expectation Ma stated was for more
resources to be devoted to climate change and environmental issues and for
feasible counter-measures to be devised. The lesson of the importance of
natural disaster prevention to a nation's safety has already been learned, Ma
said, and no repeat of past tragedies should ever happen.
The Happiness Index
“Economic progress should not be the only goal
a nation aims for,” the president said yesterday. His government wants the
people to feel happy.
“Starting from next year, the Executive Yuan
will issue the nation's 'gross happiness index' — with factors such as health,
environment, education, living, culture, jobs, vacations, and the child-raising
environment taken into account,” Ma said. From next year on, in addition to the
hard index of gross national product, Taiwan could also be evaluated by the
soft index of gross happiness.
Grace Soong
The China Post
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