The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) came under fire yesterday over its proposed budget of NT$72.5 million (US$2.21 million) to construct a new building for the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD).
"The TFD already has a beautiful home," said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), alluding to the fact that the building housing the foundation had won the AIA New York Design Award last year.
"Why do you want to spend NT$72.5 million to build a new facility? Why don't you use the money instead to support pro-democracy activists abroad?" Hsiao asked, casting doubts on the budget at the legislature's Foreign and Overseas Compatriot Affairs Committee session to review the ministry's budget request of NT$31.56 billion for next year.
The Taiwan Foundation Democracy was established by the government in June 2003 to assist in promoting democratic activities and serve as a platform for the nation to share its experiences with other democracies.
Hsiao, who participated in the foundation's establishment and serves as a board director, said the TFD was not founded to "build a mansion."
"I did not hear the TFD express concern when the whole world was focused on the genocide in Sudan and Myanmar's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators," she said.
Under the plan, the government will build a four-story building next to the TFD, using a state-owned land measuring about 770 ping (2,540m2) in a lane off Xinyi Road.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said there was no reason to spend so much money on the project as it had obtained the land for free.
Lai said that the proposed budget would put construction cost at nearly NT$100,000 per ping, which is "far higher than the NT$40,000 per ping standard set by the Public Construction Commission."
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"The TFD actually lacks suitable conference rooms for receiving foreign guests," Chiang said.
Hsiao proposed at the end of the session that the ministry's budget request of NT$72.5 million be cut in half.
The committee will deliberate Hsiao's proposal on Oct. 22.
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