Mr Ma's banking lawyer wife Christine Chow has continued to take the bus to work as she normally does, even with camera crews from the island's feisty television stations following her on board and taping her as she topped up her bus fare card at a convenience store.

Major Taiwanese newspapers plastered on their front pages pictures of Ms Chow getting on and off the bus with other commuters.

'Ma's wife takes the bus - stands listening to mp3', the Chinese language United Daily News wrote on Tuesday in a headline on its second page, most of which was devoted to Ms Chow.

'Don't call me the president's wife, call me department head Chow,' the newspaper quoted her telling reporters who trailed her onto the bus, referring to her current job title.

Ms Chow had won plaudits during the election for her unwavering support of her husband, which included donning campaign gear to meet and greet the electorate, grasping people with both hands and doing a 90 degree bow to ask for their votes.

Mr Ma's two daughters, who both live in the United States and returned to Taiwan to support their father, have likewise been followed everywhere by Taiwan's celebrity-obsessed media, including when checking in at the airport in New York.

Television stations breathlessly reported how they had refused special treatment from the airline, and would only say 'thank you' in response to reporters' questions.

One of Mr Ma's election night promises was that he would run a 'humble' administration, trying to avoid some of the problems that haunted current President Chen Shui-bian's time in office.

Mr Chen's wife Wu Shu-chen has been charged with corruption, although the president's office has denied the charges, and his son-in-law was last year convicted of insider trading.

But there is also one other member of Mr Ma's family who has attracted media interest, an adopted stray dog whose name translates to 'Little Ma'.

'He's quite shy, and always gets very nervous around cameras,' according to Taiwan news portal EToday. -- REUTERS