Three KMT heavyweights rejected yesterday President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) offer to discuss the Cabinet's public infrastructure program over tea at the president's residence.
The KMT members said Chen's offer to meet with the heads of local governments today would not help them gain a greater share of government money.
"We have many opportunities to meet, such as at public functions. The Taipei City Government has time and time again put forth proposals to the Executive Yuan detailing what the city really needs," Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"I can't see how this gathering with Chen would have any positive impact," he said.
Just over a week ago, Chen invited all non-DPP local administrators to a meeting set for today.
Chen also urged the pan-blue camp to end its opposition to the Cabinet's NT$50 billion infrastructure program.
During his weekly televised talk A-bian's portrait (阿扁傳真) yesterday, Chen appealed to opposition parties to put politics aside and support the Cabinet's program, adding the plan will create jobs and stimulate economic development.
However, three KMT political stars -- Ma, Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-lung (朱立倫) and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) -- declined to participate in the meeting.
Ma turned down the invitation by expressing his disappointment with the DPP government's policy.
"I proposed my ideas [on what the city needs] to the president last Friday. I have said what I should say," Ma told reporters. "As for the NT$50 billion program, only a handful proposals made by the city government have been approved by the Cabinet."
"We certainly will keep doing our best to try to obtain funds through the official mechanism, but now I think it is useless to talk with the president," Ma said.
While Ma adopted a tough tone, Hu cited a foot injury as his reason for declining the president's invitation.
"I did not refuse or cancel the meeting with President Chen," Hu said yesterday. "It has just been postponed."
"The Presidential Office knows that I have not recovered from my foot injury and they have promised to arrange another meeting," he said.
Presidential Office spokesman James Huang (黃志芳) told the media that President Chen respects Ma's decision, adding that the scheduled gathering was intended to provide a forum for a general exchange of views.
"Chen is concerned about county and city developments. He hopes to listen to the grassroots," Huang said. "The discussion is not confined to any particular topic."
"The real situation is not like what Mayor Ma said," he added.
Since the Cabinet proposed its NT$70 billion job creation program in January -- NT$20 billion of which would go toward providing jobs for laborers and NT$50 billion of which would go toward infrastructure projects -- the opposition alliance has repeatedly stated its belief the program would serve as a campaign fund for the DPP. The blue camp also charges that DPP administrations would be the prime beneficiaries of the funds.
The debate over how to allocate the NT$50 billion almost paralyzed the legislature this past week.
Among the 23 counties and cities and two special municipalities under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, 10 are controlled by KMT administrators, two by the PFP, one by the New Party and one by an independent. The DPP controls 11 counties and cities.
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