A group of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers took aim yesterday at the wealth of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (
They said Lien's father, former interior minister Lien Chen-tung (
PHOTO: LIAO CHENG-HUEI, TAIPEI TIMES
"The junior Lien bought his first land in downtown Taipei in 1959 on the eve of his departure for postgraduate study in the US. His father was the interior minister responsible for monitoring the island's agriculture under the former KMT government," said DPP Legislator Shieh Ming-yuan (謝明源).
The farmland bought by Lien Chan was rezoned for construction 18 months later while he was abroad. The change helped his family make money on the property market, Shieh said.
Shieh said Lien's eldest daughter, Lien Huei-hsin (
The Land Law (土地法) in effect at the time casts doubt on the legality of the purchase. The law stated that only the person who was to cultivate the land would be eligible for making such deals, according to the lawmaker.
"The investigation and police authorities should probe the purchase and see if anything illegal or underground took place," he said.
Shieh made the remarks at a news conference held by DPP lawmakers to debate the wealth of Lien and his father.
The lawmakers questioned how the family became so rich given that Lien and his father were civil servants earning limited salaries.
A magazine has recently reported on how Lien became the richest politician in the country.
"It is doubtful that Lien Chan and his father could accumulate billions in wealth for their family when both of them were government officials receiving limited salaries," DPP Legislator Tang Bi-a (唐碧娥) said.
According to the magazine report, Lien bought a luxury villa at the age of 23. The report estimated it would take him 5,400 years to pay for the villa if he saved NT$15,000 every month from his salary as a public employee.
Tang advised Lien's running mate in next March's presidential election, People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), to stop dividing people based on rich-poor lines.
"Lien absolutely belongs to the rich group of people and Soong would fail to realize his goal of finding fault with the DPP government since he has included his running mate in the side that he plans to criticize," Tang said.
Tang advised Lien to lend a hand to the 500,000 students in the country who are having trouble paying their tuition fees.
"For the sake of his hope to win the 2004 election, Lien might demonstrate his kindness by aiding these students while he pays US$30,000 each semester for his youngest daughter to study in the US," Tang said.
But KMT Legislator Lee Chia-chin (
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