KMT must solve its assets problem

Lien's statements regarding putting the party assets into trust, however, forced the party to face an issue that must be dealt with if it is to regain power. To win back the public's trust, the KMT must seriously push for the enactment of so called "sunshine laws" -- a legislative package including the Trust Enterprise Law, the Political Contributions Management Law and the Political Party Law. It will probably take years for the KMT to divest itself of its assets. To start with, an independent task force should be established to examine the sources and contents of the KMT's assets. Then we will know the extent to which the KMT, during its many years of impunity, has pilfered the people.

It's been nearly nine months since the KMT became the opposition party in Taiwan. It seems that the party's central leadership still does not accept its defeat in the presidential election and has refused to implement party reform. It's obvious that the key members of the party's central headquarters are only interested in accusing others rather than taking responsibility for losing the election. There is still a lack of consensus about how to use the party's resources to reform the party's structure.

Elections often prompt politicians to make promises which they can't fulfil. While accusing President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of bouncing his campaign checks, the KMT should ask itself a question: have we done enough to realize our campaign promises?

Liu Kuan-teh is a Taipei-based political commentator.