Lien, Soong attack DPP's `negative' record in power

Opposition leaders yesterday lashed out at President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) governing record, criticizing Chen's leadership as inept and saying that his administration attaches no importance to professionalism.

"The DPP administration has become the first-place record-holder in many negative records in Taiwan since assuming the role of the ruling administration three years ago," said KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰). "All of these negative records are the result of the DPP administration's acting unprofessionally and letting its interest in getting re-elected lead its policy decisions."

Lien made the remarks while making a speech at the opening of a new think tank called the Mirror Society (鏡社).

Although the group maintains it is nonpartisan, it is composed mainly of pan-blue academic and business figures.

"If a government is letting election campaigning and political ideology guide its policy-making decisions, then the formulation and implementation of the government's public policy is certain to be twisted and distorted," said Lien, adding that such moves would also impede social and national development.

Lien encouraged the think tank "to work together to terminate the chaos seen in society, which is exacerbated by the administration's inability to govern."

Also invited by the think tank to address an opening speech, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), like Lien, took the opportunity to lambaste Chen and his administration.

Soong ridiculed Chen by mo-cking the "Five No's" slogan coined by Chen three years ago.

In his 2000 inauguration speech, Chen proposed the "Five No's": no declaration of Taiwan independence; no change in the country's name; no alteration of the Constitution; no referendum on Taiwan's future; and no abolition of the unification guidelines.

"The [DPP] administration has another Five No's," said Soong, who arrived shortly after Lien concluded his speech and left. "[The DPP administration] does not know about economics, does not know how to govern, does not know about tolerance, does not know how to engage in introspection and has achieved nothing in governing."

Citing Chen's statement made while meeting with business leaders last Wednesday, Soong went on and criticized Chen's inability to lead.

"I think the real issue here lies in Chen's inability to lead and not that he has no talent to assist him to govern," Soong said.