TAIPEI - A TAIWANESE man with eight 'wives' and 32 children said on Wednesday he expected to collect US$4,500 (S$6,877) in shopping vouchers to become the largest beneficiary of the new scheme.

'It seems that my family will benefit the most from the programme. I am very grateful, it will help us a lot', a smiling Mr Liu Ho-mu told local television.

Mr Liu, a self-proclaimed 'spiritual teacher', has for more than 20 years lived with eight women who have borne him 32 children in central Changhua county.

He attracted attention four years ago when women's rights groups urged prosecutors to look into his multiple relationships, as bigamy is a criminal offence in Taiwan punishable with a maximum five-year prison term.

But Mr Liu has claimed that all his wedding ceremonies were presided over by 'gods, ghosts and Buddha' and that he broke no law because he did not officially register any of the relationships as formal marriages.

His 41-member family is entitled to 147,600 Taiwan dollars (about S$6,877) under a shopping vouchers scheme unveiled by the government on Tuesday in a bid to stimulate spending and boost the economy.

Under the scheme, the island's 23 million people regardless of age or wealth will be given 3,600 Taiwan dollars.

The programme is expected to cost some 82 billion Taiwan dollars and contribute a 0.64 per cent increase in the 2009 GDP, officials said. -- AFP