Lee suggests KMT change monikerto boost its image

President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday brought up the issue of the Kuomintang's century-old name, even suggesting it could be renamed to rid it of its association with "black gold" politics.

Lee made the comments yesterday during a meeting at the Presidential Office with nearly a dozen legislators from the "e-Generation Political Alliance (e世代問政聯盟)," a sub-group within the KMT in the legislature.

During the one-hour meeting, the representatives told Lee they were worried about the prospects for party reform and that a majority of the party's local factions were not confident in the party's reform.

Some other legislators complained Vice President and KMT Acting Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) was too remote from the people.

Lee answered by using the example of an elderly lady he met during the presidential election campaign.

He said he asked her whom she was going to vote for, and she replied: "James Soong (宋楚瑜)."

When Lee asked the lady why she would not vote for Lien, she replied that she could not vote for a person she did not even know.

Lien was criticized by people within and outside the KMT throughout the campaign for being perceived as wooden and void of charisma. Lien's inability to engage rally audiences was often cited as a major cause of the party's defeat in the election.

The president also denied allegations that he had abandoned Lien in favor of the DPP's Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in the election.

Lee also expressed concern over the KMT's alleged "black gold" image, adding that the party has disconnected itself from the younger generations.

"The KMT might need to rename itself if it wants the reform to take effect," said Lee.

Lee said he agreed with the legislators' demand to have the party chairman directly elected by registered members and stressed the party needed to undertake reforms at all levels.