Minister denies personality clash led to resignation

Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) yesterday denied personal clashes were responsible for the resignation of vice minister Ho Cheng-tan (賀陳旦).

The Public Construction Commission's vice chairman, Lin Lin-san (林陵三), is to take over the position of executive vice minister of transportation and communications from Ho, whose resignation was approved yesterday.

Ho said he would depart from his current position today.

Yeh rejected claims a personality conflict led to Ho's decision.

"There has never been any personal conflict between Ho and myself," the minister said during interpellation by KMT legislator Lee Shan-ren (李先仁).

Lee asked Yeh how the Ministry of Transportation and Communications could face the public when its senior officials were bickering instead of dealing with pressing matters such as the airlines' insufficient insurance coverage for war risks.

Yeh said the vice minister had requested to serve only one year in the ministry after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) recruited him to the Cabinet in 1999.

She said Ho had tried to quit several times primarily because "he felt that his personality did not fit the position."

"I will be happily sleeping at home for several days before deciding my next step," Ho said.

Ho also dismissed rumors that he could not get along with the minister. "My resignation can simply be attributed to concern over my personal career plan."

He added that he felt obliged to leave the ministry as he believes his disposition does not correspond to serving in government.

Ho is seen as being close to President Chen. He was the head of Taipei City's transportation bureau during Chen's tenure as Taipei mayor.

Before entering the ministry, Ho was the secretary-general of the Chinese Institute of Urban Planning. He also has a reputation for being less bureaucratic than most officials.