Vice minister dismissed for public spat

Minister of Education Ovid Tzeng (曾志朗) has dismissed Lin Chao-hsien (林昭賢) from his post as vice education minister due to his high-profile spat with a colleague.

Tzeng dismissed Lin yesterday and offered him a position as councilor to the ministry. But Lin would not accept the demotion and said he would submit an application for retirement on Monday.

"To maintain the internal harmony of the ministry and facilitate the implementation of education reforms, I have decided to change the post of Vice Minister Lin, transferring him to the position of councilor," Tzeng said yesterday.

In addition, the minister said he had reprimanded Vice Minister of Education Fan Sun-lu (范巽綠) "for her inappropriate public remarks" in the dispute with Lin.

Tzeng yesterday refused to comment on speculation concerning Lin's successor, only saying that the candidate should have a positive public image, be a good team player and be keen about education reforms.

The minister said he would make his decision soon.

Lin Yu-ti (林玉体), dean of the college of education at National Taiwan Normal University (師大), is thought by many to be the front runner to succeed Lin.

Lin, who learned of the minister's decision from reporters yesterday, said that he didn't intend to go back to his former job as councilor to the education ministry.

"I have worked as a councilor [to the ministry] before. [The minister's] new arrangements for me do not allow me any space to progress ? I am going to file an application for retirement on Monday," said the 63-year-old Lin, who has been on leave since the row with Fan began earlier this week.

Lin said he felt "carefree" after being relieved of his official duties after more than 40 years of service.

On Monday, the two vice ministers engaged in a war of words after Fan publicly insinuated that Lin was involved in the financial scandal surrounding the private Jin-Wen Institute of Technology (景文技術學院). Fan said that as a public official, Lin had "failed to avoid" connections with special interest groups.

Lin has come under suspicion because he lives in a villa in the Ta Hsueh Shih Hsiang (大學詩鄉) community, which was built by a construction firm owned by Chang Wan-li (張萬利), former chairman of the Jin-Wen group.

Reports say Lin bought the residence in 1996 at an amount far below the market price.

Tzeng said that one reason why he replaced Lin instead of Fan was because Lin had failed to allay public apprehension as to his role in the financial scandal, despite his explanations.

In his defense, Lin said that the mere fact that he had purchased a home in the Ta Hsueh Shih Hsiang community did not mean he was guilty of wrongdoing.