Despite a Taiwan High Court ruling on Friday that found Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
Hsieh said that although the court did not find Ma guilty of embezzling his special allowance fund during his term as Taipei mayor, it confirmed that Ma had used the fund for personal purposes.
"It ran counter to Ma's previous statement when he said he used the fund for public and charitable purposes," Hsieh said. "The court ruling only reflects the fact that Ma lied about the use of the fund and his morals and credibility are bankrupt."
Hsieh made the remarks in Taipei in response to questions about a poll published by the Chinese-language China Times claiming that public support for the Ma-Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) ticket had climbed to 45 percent after the High Court upheld the lower court's ruling of not guilty on Friday.
Although the court ruling seemed to boost Ma's popularity, Ma would suffer in the long run because the not guilty verdict is not the same as saying he is an ethical man, Hsieh said.
While everyone must avoid committing crimes, a stricter set of moral standards must be applied to presidential candidates, he said.
Ma was indicted on Feb. 13 on charges of mishandling funds and embezzling a total of NT$11.17 million (US$343,700) from his special allowance fund during his terms as Taipei mayor between December 1998 and July last year.
The prosecutor in charge of the case claimed in the indictment that Ma transferred half of the public funds to his personal bank account each month after handing in his receipts, then kept that portion in full knowledge that these were public funds.
He was acquitted of the charges by the Taipei District Court on Aug. 14, but the prosecution appealed the decision to the Taiwan High Court on Aug. 27. The Taiwan High Court on Friday upheld the Taipei District Court's ruling.
Hsieh said it was a fact that Ma misused the fund, because he used it to raise his pet dog, support his family and pay utility bills and taxes.
Hsieh berated Ma for worsening the capital's economy during his term as Taipei mayor, saying not only had the gap between the rich and poor increased but also that the younger generation could no longer afford to buy houses.
"If Ma is elected president, I wonder if we will have to move to the Philippines," he said.
Campaigning in Taipei City's Wanhua District (
Hsieh said that Tuan's opponents are in no position to make such remarks because the DPP had not said Ma, who is also a descendant of Mainlander parents, should not run for president.
The birth place of a presidential candidate is not important, but what matters is whether the person identifies with Taiwan, Hsieh said.
"The reason some Taiwanese do not like Ma is not because he was born in Hong Kong, but because he advocates a cross-strait common market and ultimate unification with China," Hsieh said.
Additional reporting by CNA
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RSS