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TAIPEI - Tens of thousands of Taiwanese rallied in Taipei onSaturday to voice their anger at President Ma Ying-jeou over aspate of controversial policies, on the eve of his inauguration fora second term. Protesters held placards proclaiming "President Ma, you suck!" andput stickers printed with the word "anger" on their faces in ademonstration organised by the main opposition DemocraticProgressive Party (DPP). "We demand Ma apologise to the people and Premier Sean Chen stepdown for the wrong policies," said DPP spokesman Lin Yu-chang. Ma has come under fire over a recent string of policies includingthe "double hikes" of fuel and electricity prices, amid a slowingeconomy and rising inflation. His government's plan to allow imports of US beef treated with thegrowth drug ractopamine also backfired, triggering several protestsby local farmers. "Ma is doing a terrible job. He claims to listen to the people buthe never does. I really hope he'll step down," said Keary Huang, anoffice worker from Taipei. Police estimated a turnout of nearly 40,000 while the DPP claimedabout 100,000 people joined the rally. Apparently feeling the growing public anger, Ma called an impromptupress conference on Saturday to pledge to "look after the welfareof the majority of the people". "I feel sorry and uneasy that recent policies have caused thepublic inconvenience and insecurity. I respect the people's views,"he said. Ma's approval rating stood at around 40 per cent ahead of theJanuary presidential elections, when he won a comfortable victoryfor a second and final four-year term. However, recent controversies sent his popularity plunging to 19.5per cent, its lowest level in nearly three years according to apoll of 1,086 people released by Wealth Magazine last week. In the survey, 62 per cent said they had no faith that Ma wouldperform better during his second term. Ma is due to be inaugurated on Sunday morning in a ceremonywitnessed by hundreds of foreign and local dignitaries, whenanother opposition party will stage a protest near the presidentialoffice. Ma was elected in 2008 on a China-friendly platform and hisgovernment hailed fast-improving ties with Beijing during his firstterm, with a major trade pact signed by the two sides in 2010. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. However, Beijingstill claims the island as part of its territory awaitingunification, by force if necessary. Liao Kuo-chih, a travel agent from northeast Taiwan, voicedconcerns about Ma's China policies as he prepared to march towardsthe DPP headquarters in downtown Taipei for a night rally. "Taiwan's door is wide open and Taiwan's money is pouring intoChina which hurts our economy. I don't know how Taiwan can defenditself without money and advanced weapons.". We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Plastic Agglomerator , Plastic Auxiliary Machine Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Pet Bottle Recycling Machine.
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