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DPP figures slam Ma over blunders as mayor of Taipei

After targeting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) municipal projects, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians yesterday once again attacked his handling of municipal affairs during his stint as Taipei mayor.

DPP Taipei City Councilor Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) is organizing an online poll on what she described as Ma's "failed actions," including his decision to lock down Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital during the SARS epidemic, mishandling of Typhoon Nari, the Taipei Municipal Hospital's failure to treat "little sister Chiu," and the Tunghsing Building (東星大樓) case.

flooding

Severe flooding in Taipei after Typhoon Nari struck the city in 2001 chipped away at Ma's image, as the public watched a swamped and indecisive administration acting too slowly.

In 2003 during the SARS outbreak, Ma's administration asked all 930 staff and 240 patients to remain in Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital to prevent the spread of the SARS virus.

This measure met with uproar from numerous SARS patients and hospital staff who felt they were being treated like criminals.

criticized

Ma was also criticized during the "little sister Chiu" incident in 2005, when a four-year-old girl who was beaten by her father died while awaiting treatment amidst bureaucratic bumbling at Taipei Municipal Renai Hospital.

Hsu said Ma's administration should also be blamed for failing to offer adequate help to victims of the collapse of Tunhsing Building, which was destroyed in the 921 earthquake eight years ago.

crippled

"Ma's poor crisis management and problem-solving abilities crippled municipal development, and make it hard for Taipei residents to forget his failed actions even now," Hsu told a press conference yesterday.

Hsu called on residents to cast their votes on what they think were Ma's worst actions at http://tcc9117.tcc.gov.tw.

The result of the voting will be revealed next Friday.
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