MORAKOT: THE AFTERMATH: Cabinet does about-face in rejection of foreign aid

Legislators across party lines yesterday supported the government’s call for foreign aid.

“Which is more important now, saving lives or [saving the government’s] face? Everyone knows perfectly well that saving lives is the first priority,” Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) said. “We should welcome all foreign aid that can help us speed up the process of disaster relief and rescue efforts.”

KMT Legislator Wu Ching-chih (吳清池) agreed, saying that the government should invite foreign rescue teams to help with the relief.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Sue-ying (黃淑英) said accepting foreign aid was necessary because the government was “obviously incompetent” in disaster relief.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KO SHU-LING AND FLORA WANG

Also See: EDITORIAL: The price of incompetent leadership