KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday campaigned in Hsinchu County (新竹縣), one of the country's major Hakka regions, to solicit votes from the Hakka community.
While on the stump, Lien pledged that if elected he would work to set up a museum of Hakka culture and a special committee to deal with Hakka affairs. Referring to independent presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜), but not mentioning him by name, Lien called on the public not to cast votes for "a heartless person, who has showed his lack of faith in his country by remitting all his money overseas and who has turned against the KMT which once nurtured him."
In another jab at Soong, Lien said: "A self-righteous candidate said that I have never promoted Hakka people [in the government, but it's not true]."
Lien said he had elevated numerous Hakka politicians such as former KMT and Presidential Office secretary-general Wu Po-hsiung (吳伯雄) and chairperson of the Council of Sports Affairs Chao Li-Yun (趙麗雲).
Lien was accompanied by several Hakka political figures, including former Council of Agriculture chairman Peng Tso-kwei (彭作奎) and KMT lawmakers Cheng Yung-chin (鄭永金) and Chiu Ching-chun (邱鏡淳).
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