New Party's Feng to stay true to the unification cause

Outgoing New Party lawmaker Elmer Feng (馮滬祥) shed tears on the legislative floor yesterday, saying he will press ahead with the pro-unification cause after his tenure expires at the end of next month.

Feng, who has openly advocated the "one country, two systems" model to end cross-strait tension, failed to retain his seat in the southern district of Taipei City last week.

"This is the last time I question the Cabinet," Feng said during a question-and-answer session, wiping tears from his eyes. "I don't mind losing the race. What wears me down is that an increasing number of government officials refuse to regard themselves as Chinese."

The legislator waved a large national flag inside the legislative chamber and played the national anthem to mark his upcoming departure.

"Though defeated, I will not quit defending the Republic of China and the national flag as long as I live," Feng affirmed.

He blasted his rival candidates from the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union and Taiwan Independence Party for staging provocative protests in front of his campaign headquarters in the run-up to the polls.

"Such conduct caused grave harm to the dignity of the ROC and threatened to break apart the country," Feng complained to Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄).

He asked Chang to promise not to put the nation on a course that may endanger its preservation. The lawmaker then gave the flag to the premier as a parting gift.

With a doctoral degree from Boston University in the US, Fung, 53, said he will teach philosophy at National Central University.

His party, which won only one seat in the outpost island of Kinmen, will call another meeting to probe into its disastrous showing today.

Fung said he will not abandon his party though it is on the brink of collapse, as one member after another has voiced a desire to leave.