Frustrated in their attempts to obtain official documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday lashed out at ministry officials for what she termed their "self-righteous" attitude.
"Are you trying to treat us like idiots?" Hsiao asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (
Hsiao's attack came as a result of her difficulties in obtaining documents regarding foreign aid from the ministry, she said.
Hsiao said her assistants had called the foreign ministry to ask for the documents but that ministry officials did nothing for at least two weeks.
"It was only after DPP Legislator Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信) scolded a ministry official over the phone that these documents were finally sent to me," Hsiao said.
Hsiao said officials at the foreign ministry were "complacent."
"Don't forget that I am also the director of the DPP's Department of International Affairs. If I as a legislator from the ruling party have difficulty obtaining ministry documents, how will opposition lawmakers be able to get any?" Hsiao said.
Hsiao, 31, said it was probably her age that led foreign ministry officials to be so "perfunctory."
In response to the attack, Chien said that he had repeatedly instructed his colleagues in the foreign ministry to take seriously requests for documents from legislators.
Hsiao also criticized the foreign minister, who, she said, had told a newly employed secretary in his office to call the legislator to invite her for a meal.
"I was not asking for a meal. All I wanted was to talk with someone who has a very clear grip of government policies," Hsiao said.
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