DPP legislator Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday lashed out at new bills he says are guilty of the outdated idolization of political figures.
\nThe central bank is to issue new NT$100 bills in July. Bills with the new face values of NT$200 and NT$2000 will be released in January and July 2002 respectively.
\nSun Yat-sen, the Chinese revolutionary leader, will be portrayed on the new NT$100 bills as on the current NT$100 bill. The new NT$200 bills will feature the figure of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), the KMT dictator and former ROC president.
\nCho blasted the idea of using political figures on bills saying it was against the evolution of society.
\n"In today's modern world, we should not encourage political totems, which originate from feudal times," he said.
\nCho said it is "tolerable" to see Sun on bills because "he is the only father of China." But he said that choosing Chiang's portrait for the new bill was unreasonable.
\n"Do we have to have all the presidents printed on our bills in the future? The decision [to have Chiang portrayed on the new bill] is solely to fulfil the requests of certain political powers," Chou said.
\nCho said new bills are to be used for roughly two decades, "therefore, we should make use of the opportunity and abandon the outdated political concerns of authoritarianism."
\nThe lawmaker said he has received complaints from a number of people, including staff of the central bank, about the new bills.
\nOther bills to be issued are designed to depict Taiwan's achievements in technology, education and conservation.
\nWu Shaw-chii (
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