Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice presidential candidate Jennifer Wang (王如玄) yesterday downplayed allegations that her husband, Judicial Yuan Department of Government Ethics Director Huang Tung-hsun (黃東焄), has resigned from his job amid snowballing controversies over her purchases and sales of military housing units.
When asked to confirm reports of Huang’s resignation on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp National Labor Union in Taipei, Wang said she was not aware of her husband’s current status.
“We are both new to election campaigns and have never done this before. The presidential campaign offers me a chance to learn and grow, and I have also been doing some self-reflection. I am willing to make improvements where I have not done enough,” Wang said.
Photo: CNA
Wang made the remarks hours after rumors started circulating that Huang had on Wednesday tendered his resignation out of fears that his wife’s controversial dealings over at least 12 military apartments might cause his impartiality at work to be called into question.
The Judicial Yuan’s Agency Against Corruption, which is responsible for appointing the head of the Department of Government Ethics, later yesterday confirmed that Huang had submitted an oral resignation to agency Director-General Lai Jer-shyon (賴哲雄).
“However, since the paperwork has not yet arrived, it is still to be determined whether Huang’s resignation would be signed off,” the agency said.
It is not the first time that Huang’s life has been affected by Wang’s election campaign.
On Nov. 30, the couple moved out of a government dormitory in Taipei’s Daan District (大安) after the legitimacy of their residence there had been repeatedly challenged by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) said that Huang’s ownership of a house in New Taipei City should have made him ineligible to apply for the dorm accomodation.
Asked how she felt about letting her campaign affect her husband, Wang said they have helped and supported each other since they met at graduate school.
“I am grateful to my husband for his silent support behind me. I always consult with him before I make a decision and he has been very supportive,” Wang said.
Wang on Wednesday also dismissed the DPP’s questioning of how she managed to purchase some of her military apartments before they were completed.
“The Control Yuan has investigated all relevant sales processes and cleared them of any illegal conduct, so they can definitely stand up to close scrutiny. Besides, the Supreme Court has handed down rulings that deem the purchases of military apartments through debt assumption legitimate and legally valid,” Wang said.
Debt assumption is an acquisition method in which the buyer makes a payment in cash or in a promissory note in exchange for future ownership of the property after a waiting period.
Wang said that, as a vice presidential candidate, she is willing to subject herself to higher moral standards, which was why she decided to donate the NT$13.8 million (US$417,992) profit that she made from the transactions of government-subsidized military dependent housing.
“I hope to use this money to contribute to society and help out more people in need,” Wang said.
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