Opposition demands minister's head

Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh, right, listens to a report on long-term flood control planning from Chen Shen-hsien, director of the Water Resources Agency, left, in Taoyuan yesterday. PHOTO: HSIEH WU-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

The pan-blue opposition yesterday demanded that Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh (何美玥) step down to shoulder responsibility for ongoing water shortages in Taoyuan County. But Ho dismissed their comments, saying that it would be irresponsible for her to leave her post, at least until the problem is solved.

"Of course it would be easy to quit now, but that wouldn't solve the problem," she said. "The most important thing right now is to get the water back on. I promise I will not remain in my position if I am found to be responsible and cannot meet a new timetable."

Ho's drew a round of applause from Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers, who had invited her and Water Resources Agency Director-General Chen Shen-hsien (陳伸賢) to brief the caucus on the water shortage problem and the government's proposed eight-year, NT$80 billion (US$2.5 billion) flood-control package.

Throwing backing behind Ho, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) said that it will take time and effort to solve the county's long-standing problem and that the opposition caucus' request was irresponsible.

"Everybody should just shut up and help the government solve the problem," he said.

After yesterday's briefing, Chen confirmed that he had offered his resignation in person to his superviser, Ho, in the morning, but was asked to stay in his post.

Chen that it was not the minister's fault that Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) was given incorrect information about the situation, which led the premier to confidently -- but misguidedly -- announce on Sunday that he expected to see the county's water supply fully restored by midnight last night.

With Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-lun (朱立倫) looking on, Hsieh yesterday apologized to county residents for making an empty promise during an inspection trip to Shihmen Dam (石門水庫).

Chu the premier to pressure the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Water Resources Agency and Taiwan Water Supply Corp tell the county exactly when they can expect the water supply to be fully restored. He also asked the national government to fix the county's regular water supply problems, which usually occur in the wake of a typhoon.

Upset the premier's false promise, opposition People First Party (PFP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucuses yesterday jointly requested the resignations of Hsieh and Ho.

"The premier should step down for making defamatory remarks about Chu, who speaks up for his residents and asks for help from the government," said KMT caucus whip Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源). "Instead of helping him, the premier accused him of making the appeal to solicit votes for the year-end local elections."

KMT Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) said that both Hsieh and Ho should resign because "a wrongheaded government policy is worse than corruption."

Chin Hui-chu (秦慧珠), director of the PFP caucus office and a former lawmaker, called on Hsieh to conduct a Cabinet reshuffle before the legislature meets again next month, so that it will be staffed by more capable government officials who will better carry out his orders.

She also said that Chu might want to give up his plan to ask the government to include Taoyuan in the eight-year flood-fighting package, because the root of the county's water supply problem is not a lack of money, but rather the government's incompetence and inefficiency.

Yang Wei-fu (楊偉甫), chief engineer of the Water Resources Agency, admitted during the KMT-PFP joint press conference that he does not expect the county's water supply problems after typhoons to be solved within the next three years.

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Anger mounts as water woes continue