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Acting KMT chairman says he will resign

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Acting Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung announces at a KMT dinner yesterday that he will resign from both his acting chairman and vice chairman positions ahead of the party's chairperson by-election next month. PHOTO: CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Acting Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday announced that he will resign his positions as acting chairman and vice chairman to ensure a fair competition in the chairperson by-election next month.

Wu made the remarks yesterday after his rival in the by-election, KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), urged him to resign on Friday.

"I agreed that I should enter the by-election as a party member," Wu said while attending the funeral of late Keelung mayor Hsu Tsai-li (許財利).

KMT Secretary General Wu Den Yih (吳敦義) said Wu Poh-hsiung would formally resign during the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday. KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) would take over as acting chairman in accordance with party regulations, he added.

Hung praised Wu Poh-hsiung's decision to resign and said he would compete in a "gentlemanly" manner with the acting chairman.

Wu Poh-hsiung in turn pledged not to attack his competitor during the campaign period.

"I will not criticize my rival in the election and I will give my full support to the elected chairman if I am defeated."

Wu Poh-hsiung, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) acting chairman

"The KMT can't afford any divisions now. I will not criticize my rival in the election and I will give my full support to the elected chairman if I am defeated," he said.

KMT regulations state that Wu Poh-hsiung and Hung will need to collect signatures from at least 3 percent of party members between last Friday and March 18 in order to register in the by-election.

The by-election will be held on April 7 and an inauguration ceremony for the new chairman will be held on April 11.

During a trip to Yunlin County yesterday, former KMT chairman and presidential hopeful Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who resigned as chairman after being indicted on corruption charges, said he approved of Wo Poh-hsiung's decision to resign as acting chairman.

Ma, who has recently been spending his weekends in the south to garner grassroots support, said he planned to make frequent visits to the poor and the disabled to address social issues.

Ma later attended the funeral of legendary puppet master Huang Hai-tai (黃海岱) and recalled how Huang had sent him a "Shih Yan-wen" (史艷文) puppet nine years ago and urged him to become a defender of justice.

"I've always tried to play that role and I will continue to do so in future," Ma said.
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