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Legislate special funds: Wang Jin-pyng

Vice President Annette Lu talks to the press while at a graduation ceremony for Hsien-fo Temple's Yiching University in Taichung yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday suggested amending legislation to end the controversy over the use of special allowance funds by officials.

Addressing a commencement ceremony for Yi Ching University at Hsien-fo Temple (仙佛寺) in Taichung City yesterday, Wang said there was a general consensus that the controversy over special allowance funds was the result of "historical glitches."

The government must tackle the problem, he said, adding that the nation can only suffer from more of its political leaders becoming embroiled in suits.

"Having so many important leaders of the nation implicated in this matter is not good," Wang said.

Approximately 6,500 public positions have been eligible for special allowance funds since the 1950s.

The use of these funds, however, has often included both public and private spending, because of poor regulation. Half of an official's special allowance can be spent without accounting for it with receipts.

The controversy over the use of the funds erupted in August last year when President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was accused of misusing his special state allowance fund.

"Having so many important leaders of the nation implicated in this matter is not good"

Wang Jin-pyng, legislative speaker

Last month, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), National Security Council Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun were also indicted for alleged misuse of their funds.

While DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and his running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) were cleared of the charges, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office alleged that Lu used 1,005 fraudulent receipts to claim a total of NT$5.6 million (US$172,000) from her fund between December 2000 and May last year.

Prosecutors said that Yu used 516 fraudulent receipts to claim NT$2.3 million in reimbursements from his fund between October 2000 and December 2005, during his time as secretary-general of the presidential office and as premier.

They also said Mark Chen used 106 receipts that were not his to claim NT$368,000 while serving as minister of foreign affairs and secretary-general of the presidential office.

The charges against Lu, Yu and Chen are similar to those leveled at Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who was indicted on Feb. 13 on corruption charges for wiring NT$11 million into his bank account from his special mayoral allowance during his eight years in office.

The District Court found Ma not guilty on Aug. 14. Prosecutors have decided to appeal Ma's acquittal.

Wang yesterday said Hsieh's idea of granting amnesty to officials under investigation for misuse of the funds might not be a good way to resolve the issue.

"Amending legislation is a faster way to end the controversy. We don't know how many officials will be indicted before there is an amnesty," Wang said.

Lu, who spoke after Wang at the same event, said she agreed with Wang, adding that she hoped the speaker would pursue the matter in the legislature.

When asked to comment on Hsieh's proposal, Lu said only that amnesties can be granted by the president, not the vice president.

Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling
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