Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Wen-ta (邱文達) yesterday said that his leaving or staying in the Cabinet was the last thing on his mind, and that his top priority was to bring the tainted lard scandal under control and assuage public concerns.
“I have yet to give any thought to the matter because my priority at the moment is to handle the edible lard scare with my full strength and calm the minds of people affected by the incident,” Chiu said.
Chiu also dismissed criticism that he has hidden himself from the public to dodge fallout from the scandal, saying that he not only announced five measures to help tackle the food scare on the first day it came to light, but has also been holding meetings day and night with relevant agencies to address the matter.
Photo: CNA
The academic-turned-politician has been facing mounting pressure to step down over the snowballing tainted lard oil scandal revolving around edible oil maker Chang Guann Co (強冠企業) in Greater Kaohsiung, which has implicated 1,256 companies nationwide thus far.
Chang Guann allegedly used recycled waste oil collected from restaurant fryers by an unlicensed factory in Pingtung County and animal feed oil imported from Hong Kong in its production of 25 edible lard products.
Chiu may not be the only government official facing pressure to resign.
According to a report published yesterday by the Chinese-language China Times, Food and Drug Administration Director-General Yeh Ming-kung (葉明功) was expected to step down over his series of gaffes in handling the tainted lard scare, which have upset the upper echelons of the government.
When asked if there are any plans for a personnel reshuffle within the administration, Chiu simply said: “We have been too preoccupied with handling the oil scandal that has affected numerous people and companies to consider other matters.”
Chiu added that he has “no particular feelings” regarding Yeh’s handling of the oil scandal.
Separately yesterday, dozens of Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) members and business owners affected by the tainted lard scare staged a protest outside the ministry’s building in Taipei.
Chanting slogans including “Incompetent government killed the people” and “Punish unscrupulous businesses, give back people’s health,” the protesters called on Chiu to step down to take responsibility for the seemingly endless string of food scares in the country in recent years.
Chen Nien-tien (陳年添), the owner of a supermarket in Greater Taichung’s Wuchi District (梧棲), said the adulterated oil scare involving edible oil maker Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co (大統長基) last year had cost him nearly NT$200,000 in lost business.
“I have yet to receive my rightful compensation for the losses, but the waste oil scandal is going to take its toll on my business regardless,” Chen said.
The TSU urged the government to mobilize its second reserve fund to help those affected by the food scare.
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