Peng wavering on resignation pledge

Council of Agriculture Chairman Peng Tso-kwei (彭作奎), who resigned last week, has agreed to turn up for work tomorrow after Premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) yesterday reiterated his support for the Cabinet's version of a controversial bill, rather than an alternative version proposed by the KMT's legislative caucus.

Peng offered his resignation to Siew last Tuesday after hearing that President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) agreed to a KMT-caucus prepared alternative to the version of the agriculture development bill prepared by Peng's agency and approved by the Cabinet.

The main difference between the two versions of the bill was that the KMT caucus version allowed houses to be built on recently purchased individual plots of farmland.

Peng opposed this as the thin end of the wedge of commercial development of agricultural land, with the possible erosion of Taiwan's agricultural business and the island's environment.

The change is believed to have been made to win more support from farmers for the KMT in the upcoming presidential election.

Peng met briefly with Siew yesterday after having met with Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) on Friday. While Peng appeared determined to carry out his resignation threat, he promised to report to work tomorrow.

Government spokesman Chao Yi (趙怡) said yesterday that Peng's gesture at least indicated he might reconsider his resignation and continue defending his agriculture land-use policy within the Cabinet.

"It seems like there is a slim chance for Peng to change his position on resigning. However, the final decision depends on the way the situation develops this weekend," Chao said.

In fact, before meeting with Siew, Lien had already met with Peng on Friday at the Presidential Office.

An official who asked not to be named said that, since Peng still has no idea which version of the agriculture development bill the legislature will pass, there is no legitimate base for Peng to insist on quitting his job.

Siew yesterday was vague on who might take over the COA should Peng insist on resigning.

"I haven't given any deep though to that yet. Besides, how could I expect Peng to stay after you [referring to the media] said things like I `had already endorsed his resignation'?'' Siew said.

While the Cabinet has made efforts to engender a "family gathering" atmosphere to keep Peng in the group, it has also made plans to hold a large-scale "family reunion" celebration on Thursday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the KMT government's removal to Taiwan.

Cabinet Secretary General Hsieh Shen-shan (謝深山) said yesterday that among the five surviving premiers, four would join the festivity. The fifth, current KMT vice chairman Yu Kuo-hwa (俞國華) is ill and is not expected to be able to attend.