President Ma Ying-jeou exchanged ideas with a roomful of students on several topical issues at a university in New Taipei City last weekend, in a move to encourage young people's involvement in public affairs.

But the event has provoked unexpected criticism from a KMT lawmaker, who fumed at seeing some students remain seated while answering questions from the

Considering it an act of impertinence, the lawmaker deplored Taiwan's failure in etiquette education, saying that she would have slapped those students on the spot had she been there.

The president himself, however, didn't seem to take offense at the youngsters' manners that day, explaining that it was his intention to conduct the meeting in a relaxed and friendly setting, and that he enjoyed the experience.