When will the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) ever outgrow its need for the company of white-collar criminals?
After echoing the allegations made by former Tuntex boss Chen Yu-hao (陳由豪) in his attempt to paint the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as corrupt, the KMT is now collaborating with bribe-givers in an attempt to tarnish the Presidential Office.
On Tuesday, KMT Legislator Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) accused the Presidential Office of taking NT$20 billion from Chang Min-chiang (章民強), chairman of the Pacific Group, and then failing to protect his ownership of the Sogo department store chain as promised.
Instead, Lee said, the Sogo chairmanship went to former Government Information Office chief Chung Ching (鍾琴). Quoting Chang's claims, Lee said Chang handed over NT$20 million to Pacific Distribution Investment Co chairman Lee Heng-lung (李恆隆), who then immediately arranged a lunch with someone from the Presidential Office. That person then promised to help Chang keep his chairmanship, according to the KMT legislator, but later reneged on the deal.
If he actually engaged in bribery, then Chang had this reversal of fortune coming. In fact, should he verify these claims, he is admitting to being a criminal who tried to bribe the head of state. Prosecutors should take action.
As for Lee Heng-lung's role, Lee Chuan-chiao and Chang should produce their evidence. The Presidential Office simply does not need to respond to such wild accusations.
Such remarks from pan-blue officials have long been established to be nothing more than rumormongering. Still, they seriously affect Taiwan's domestic political and economic stability. Again, prosecutors should take the initiative and investigate the matter.
For example, the pan-blue camp said earlier that Chen Yu-hao had issued three letters claiming that he had paid political donations to the Presidential Office via someone "surnamed Lee." Then, KMT Legislator Huang Teh-fu (黃德福) claimed that that someone is none other than Lee Chuan-hung (李傳洪), who according to Huang is vice chairman of the DPP's Formosa Foundation, a confidante of first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) and a fugitive involved in the second-biggest insider trading case in US history.
The DPP immediately tried to refute the claims by showing records proving that Lee Chuan-hung had nothing to do with the Formosa Foundation. A number of media reports also pointed out that he is a major financial backer of People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜). Unhappy about the result of the ramblings by KMT lawmakers, Soong quickly demanded that they hold their tongues.
Enough is enough with such foolish political antics and the party that is performing them.
But we should not underestimate the KMT. Its recent mud-slinging suggests that the party still believes that the people will believe its baseless rumors.
All of this reminds us of a joint public statement made by Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), Cloud Gate dance group leader Lin Huai-min (林懷民) and Formosa Plastics chairman Wang Yung-ching (王永慶). The statement, which condemned negative campaigning, was welcomed by pan-blue politicians and the pro-unification media as if Lee were merely criticizing the DPP.
KMT officials are not just idiots. They are idiots who have no shame.
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