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KMT chairman Ma denies bias in favor of the `China Times'

The recent turn around of staff at the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has prompted some to ask whether KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has a preference for recruiting people from the Chinese-language China Times into the party's senior ranks.

Amid speculation about Ma's forthcoming party reshuffle, that will be approved and announced during the KMT central standing committee this Wednesday, KMT Legislator Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) told the press last Thursday that Ma had asked him to serve as secretary-general.

Wu was once a reporter at the newspaper before becoming a legislator.

On Friday, Wu said that Yang Tu (楊渡), deputy editorial writer of the China Times, will serve as the chairman of the party's culture and communications commission.

Ma remained tight-lipped yesterday when asked by the press to confirm Wu's remarks but denied any bias in favor of China Times staff.

On their way out

With the reshuffle due to be announced on Wednesday, KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) and KMT spokesman and acting chairman of the culture and communication committee Huang Yu-cheng (黃玉振) began to make preparations for their departures.

Huang yesterday declined to comment on his replacement but was still willing to defend Ma's decisions.

"There is no China Times gang. Chairman Ma chose party officials based on their talent and professionalism, not their backgrounds," he said at KMT headquarters.

According to a story in the China Times, while Huang had spared no effort in assisting Ma, even after his wife was diagnosed as suffering from cancer, the KMT chairman did not bother to inform Huang about the reshuffle.

In response to criticism of his failure to inform Chan and Huang about the reshuffle in advance, Ma argued it had not yet been finalized.

Office clearance

Although Ma gave paid credit to Huang for his hard work and promised to offer him another post, it seems unlikely Huang will accept any new offer, as he continued to clear his office yesterday and did not accompany Ma to Chiayi.

Liao Feng-te (廖風德), director of the KMT's organization and development committee, who offered his resignation after the KMT lost the Kaohsiung mayoral election, said yesterday that he was determined to leave his position.

"I am packing my stuff, and it's impossible for me to stay," he said.

Refusing to comment on the speculation about his reshuffle, Ma said that his current priority was to visit all of the nation's 25 cities and counties before the Lunar New Year.

He said this would help him gain a more detailed understanding of grassroots' needs.
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