Dismissing opposition parties' interpretation of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) comments on flooding in Tainan County, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday said that the president stands behind the eight-year, NT$80 billion (US$2.5 billion) flood-control project proposed by the Executive Yuan.
"The opposition parties have interpreted the president's words incorrectly," DPP caucus whip William Lai (
"What he meant is that while the transportation ministry and expressway engineering bureau should do a good job with the short-term flood-control projects, the Executive Yuan must also ensure that the long-term eight-year, NT$80 billion flood-control project will take care of the nation's long-standing flooding problems," he said.
During an inspection trip to his home town in Tainan County on Saturday in the wake of Typhoon Haitang, Chen apologized to the public for the inconvenience caused by the road closure of the Matou (
He also warned that if the section flooded again after work to improve the road, the "director-general and the minister will have to step down."
He was referring to the Director-General of the Taiwan Area National Expressway Engineering Bureau Chen Chien-yu (陳建宇) and Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三).
Opposition parties have interpreted the president's remarks as voicing his personal displeasure with the Cabinet's flood-control policy.
KMT whip Chen Chieh (
"The president clearly points out that the eight-year, NT$80 billion flood-control project is not the key to solving the nation's flooding problems," he said.
"The Executive Yuan must stop using the eight-year flood-fighting plan as an excuse for doing a bad job in its flood-control efforts and stop using the special legislative session as an excuse to lay the blame on opposition parties," he said.
The KMT caucus has presented preconditions for agreeing to an extraordinary session.
In addition to asking the DPP-led government to offer a public apology for its failed flood-control efforts over the past five years, they wanted the government to guarantee that the flood-control package will be a success and solve the nation's chronic flooding problems.
Chen Chieh yesterday said that he understands why the president expressed discontent with Cabinet officials because he, as a popularly elected president, is under much public pressure and is partially responsible for the government's performance.
However, he said that he was baffled by the president's inconsistent remarks about the Executive Yuan's flood-fighting efforts.
"The president was upset with the government's flood-fighting efforts on Saturday but gave them high marks [Sunday]," he said.
"I just hope the president is truly concerned with the welfare of the people, not just playing a political game to try and win people's hearts," he said.
People First Party (PFP) caucus whip Hsu Yao-chang (
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus whip David Huang (
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