When Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
One year later, however, the party's asset problem remains a burden. In addition, Ma's problematic relations with party heavyweights and his inability to present solid policies to solve the country's problems challenge his leadership in the pan-blue camp and threaten his bid to win the 2008 presidential election, analysts said.
"Ma should have revealed [the party's] assets in a transparent manner earlier. It doesn't matter whether or not the assets were acquired legally. It's about how the public feels about a wealthy party with so many investments," Soochow University political science professor Emile Sheng (
Instead of arguing about the legitimacy of the party's assets, Sheng said that Ma should stop operating for-profit corporations and donate income from asset sales to welfare services in order to completely rid the party of the "asset shadow."
The KMT released a report on its assets last Wednesday, detailing the total value of the party's assets and how they had been handled under different chairmen.
Under Ma's chairmanship, the KMT has sold five of the party's assets for a total of NT$11.4 billion (US$346.5 million), with most of the income used to pay pensions amounting to NT$1.6 billion and other personnel fees, according to the report.
Ma vowed to clean up the KMT's assets by 2008 and promised to put its remaining assets into trusts and move away from running businesses, but failed to make clear which of the party's assets he would return to the government.
Wang Yeh-li (王業立), a political science professor at Tunghai University, said that while it was understandable that Ma had sped up the sale of assets to ease the party's financial burdens, the chairman should address the issue with more delicacy.
"The KMT's financial situation should not be the only concern. Addressing the issue with more sincerity and transparency is more important," he said.
Ma's handling of the party's assets met with challenges even from some of the KMT's Central Standing Committee members, including Legislator Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強), who suggested that the party should not maintain any assets.
"The KMT should be a party with zero assets. It's a difficult goal to achieve, but think about it: Are party assets a benefit or a burden to the KMT?" Hu told the Taipei Times.
Describing the asset report as a "fly in the ointment," Hu said that Ma should "make up his mind" to turn the KMT into a zero-asset party, no matter how long it takes.
"I didn't make any comments during the committee meeting because I know many members won't accept my idea ? But do you want money or votes? Think about it," said Hu, who attended the committee meeting last week when the report was delivered.
Beyond the asset issue, Hu's criticism, and his complaint about Ma's lack of respect for the committee at a recent meeting, highlight Ma's lack of support among party members and some of its top figures.
Ma has faced continuous speculation that his relationships with former chairman Lien Chan (
"This is making it hard for other people's voices to be heard," KMT Legislator Shyu Jong-shyoung (
Lin Huo-wang (
"The KMT chairman should be the chairman of all party members, instead of a certain group of people," he said.
Both Wang Yeh-li and Sheng suggested that Ma could be more humble as the opposition leader in seeking party harmony and pan-blue unity.
"He could be smoother with others. But at the same time, he needs to keep a stern resolve to reform the KMT and make no compromises on the matter," Wang Yeh-li said.
Amid the various challenges, Sheng said, urgent tasks Ma should address include dissolving the "Ma troop" and presenting policies that address major national issues, including the economy and cross-strait relations.
"The `Ma troop' has a negative influence, and I think he realizes it now. He should gather a larger team of talent," Sheng said.
Wang Yeh-li agreed that Ma should form a professional team with seasoned campaign managers and policy consultants to assist him with national policies.
"If not, he could commit the same error made by President Chen Shui-bian (
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