Outspoken KMT legislator now keeping quiet

A KMT lawmaker who called the head of the Mainland Affairs Council an "old spinster" refused a request from her party to apologize.

The usually straightforward and frank KMT Legislator Yu Yueh-hsia (游月霞) kept tight-lipped yesterday, even though reporters chased her through crowded streets near the Legislative Yuan.

The 43-year-old also had to hide in the women's bathroom for about 10 minutes during a break in a close-door meeting of the National Defense Committee to avoid journalists' questions.

Upset over the government's apparent intransigence in establishing direct links with China, Yu lashed out at Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in the legislature on Friday, calling her a "spinster with psychological problems."

The attack has drawn the ire of lawmakers across party lines as well as women's groups.

The DPP's legislative caucus yesterday morning demanded that the KMT punish Yu immediately or it would refuse to negotiate with the opposition party.

Four women DPP lawmakers also held a press conference yesterday, criticizing Yu for using foul and sexually suggestive language to humiliate a government official.

Faced with mounting pressure, the KMT's legislative caucus asked Yu to apologize to Tsai by noon yesterday or be referred to the party's discipline committee.

But by the deadline, Yu had refused to respond, prompting KMT legislative leader Liu Cheng-hung (劉政鴻) to soften his stance. He said in the afternoon that the caucus would await an explanation from Yu before acting.