Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday announced his support for a party legislator's proposal that the KMT hold a "Youth Forum" to discuss the party's future path.
He also urged party legislators to share any concerns they have with the party caucus, rather than the media.
The KMT caucus showed deep divisions recently during the decision-making process surrounding the confirmation of Hsieh Wen-ding (謝文定), the president's nomination for state public prosecutor-general.
Growing resentment
Growing resentment for the caucus' hawkish faction -- dubbed the "Ma troop" -- has prompted some party legislators from the south of Taiwan, led by Hsu Shu-bo (
In response, Ma yesterday said he was "happy to see legislators have opinions on the party's affairs," and welcomed party members to share their thoughts with him directly.
"What I am afraid of most is the KMT becoming a monopoly ? I am happy to listen to all kinds of opinions, and I welcome [party members] to contact me anytime," Ma said yesterday morning before attending a meeting of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 in his role as Taipei mayor.
According to the Chinese-language media, Hsu sent out invitations yesterday calling on his fellow legislators from southern Taiwan to "draw on their collective wisdom to find a correct direction for the party," because the KMT needs to examine itself so the party can return to the middle course and grow stronger.
No invite for ma
Hsu invited between 20 and 30 legislators along with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Ma reiterated his willingness to communicate with his party's legislators, and dismissed allegations that he had indulged the hawkish faction and led the party caucus to extremes.
"I am the KMT chairman, don't you think that accusing me of controlling party factions is going a little too far?" Ma said later in the afternoon during a gathering with the press.
"Each faction has the freedom to express its opinion. [Legislators] are welcome to share their voices within the caucus, but talking to the media will only limit the room for discussion," he said.
In response to the discontent over party hawks siding with deep-blue supporters, Ma said he agreed 100 percent with the suggestions of legislators that the KMT caucus should use common sense when making decisions.
"We need to hold the party together ? I've always respected the caucus' opinion, and give it enough space to make decisions, rather than giving it orders," he added.
Costa Rica sent a group of intelligence officials to Taiwan for a short-term training program, the first time the Central American country has done so since the countries ended official diplomatic relations in 2007, a Costa Rican media outlet reported last week. Five officials from the Costa Rican Directorate of Intelligence and Security last month spent 23 days in Taipei undergoing a series of training sessions focused on national security, La Nacion reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. The Costa Rican government has not confirmed the report. The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica protested the news, saying in a statement issued the same
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
Taiwan’s Liu Ming-i, right, who also goes by the name Ray Liu, poses with a Chinese Taipei flag after winning the gold medal in the men’s physique 170cm competition at the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation Asian Championship in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, yesterday.
CASE: Prosecutors have requested heavy sentences, citing a lack of remorse and the defendants’ role in ‘undermining the country’s democratic foundations’ Five people affiliated with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), including senior staff from the party’s Taipei branch, were indicted yesterday for allegedly forging thousands of signatures to recall two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers. Those indicted include KMT Taipei chapter director Huang Lu Chin-ru (黃呂錦茹), secretary-general Chu Wen-ching (初文卿) and secretary Yao Fu-wen (姚富文), the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said in a news release. Prosecutors said the three were responsible for fabricating 5,211 signature forms — 2,537 related to the recall of DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) and 2,674 for DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) — with forged entries accounting for
RSS