Lack of empathy

Ma Ying-jeou is strongly criticized for inefficient rescue effort and also lack of crisis management when Morakot Typhoon struck on 8 august. People at Southern Taiwan are increasingly disappointed with their charismatic but lack of empathy president. More and more internet users have jointly asked for his resignation due to the high death toll arising from slow response of Ma’s government to exert timely rescue efforts. The severe flood brought about by Morakot has left a few villages in Southern Taiwan completed wiped out and a few families with all their family members killed.

Comparatively, the first lady Chow Mei-ching was seen to be giving genuine concern to the victims by listening attentively and hugging them. She was given a thump-up by the people for her empathy. Even the ex-President Lee Tung-hui was rated highly for his prompt actions and more efficient rescue efforts during the 921 earthquake occurred in 1999. That earthquake had certainly changed the political landscape of Taiwan as people in Taiwan were increasingly unhappy with the long ruling Kaomintang and went on to unseat its candidate in the following year’s Presidential election.

Ma Ying-jeou grown up in a political family and groomed by his father to be the President of Taiwan. He has never gone through the difficulties of life endured by most of commoners. With such a background, no wonder his lack of human touch in a time of crisis attracted so many critics.