President Lai honors late former Deputy Legislative Speaker Yao Eng-chi

Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Sunday presented a posthumous presidential citation honoring former Deputy Legislative Speaker Yao Eng-chi (饒穎奇), who died last month at the age of 93.

Lai presented the commendation to Yao's family at a memorial service in Taitung City, praising the veteran politician's decades of public service and contributions to Taiwan's democratic development, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Office on Sunday.

In his remarks, Lai said Yao served as a lawmaker for 24 years and contributed to major democratic reforms, including the full re-election of the Legislature in 1992, direct elections for special municipality mayors in 1994, and the first direct presidential election in 1996.

Despite their different political affiliations, Lai, chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, praised Yao, a member of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), describing him as "an important stabilizing force" during a period of political change who helped "resolve disputes and bridge differences."

Lai, who had served alongside Yao in the Legislature for two terms, also praised him for his contributions to Taitung County's development, saying Yao had played a role in many of the county's major transportation, education, and public infrastructure projects.

Yao served eight terms in the Legislature and was elected its deputy speaker in 1999, serving in the post until 2002. He later served as a senior adviser to the president from 2009 to 2016 under the Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration.

Yao was also the father of incumbent Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴), a KMT politician.

Yao Eng-chi died at his home in Taitung's Beinan Township on Aug. 21, with family members by his side.

Announcing his death in a Facebook post the following day, Yao Ching-ling said her father had died peacefully.

During Sunday's memorial service, Yao Ching-ling thanked Lai for presenting the posthumous presidential citation, saying it recognized her father's lifelong dedication and contributions.

In a separate Facebook post on Aug. 30, she paid tribute to her father, recalling his influence on her political career and lifelong dedication to Taitung.

She also said that during her eight years in office, her father had "never once entered the county magistrate's office," adding that her parents had "let their daughter walk her own path" while always believing in her.