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KMT candidates vow to fight corruption

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, third left, Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, fourth left, and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, fifth left, campaign for support at party headquarters in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday led the party's legislative candidates in signing a pledge to fight corruption and establish a clean government if elected.

KMT legislative candidates vowed to follow the sunshine laws, including the Political Party Law (政黨法), the Lobby Law (遊說法) and the Political Donation Law (政治獻金法), and establish a legislative reform team to handle bills more effectively and evaluate cross-party negotiation mechanisms if elected.

Led by KMT caucus whip Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), a total of 19 candidates also pledged to prioritize reviewing bills on promoting public livelihood instead of focusing on the issue of independence or unification; ratifying laws that would prevent the government from defying the legislature and grant the legislative speaker and commission heads the right to request police protection; and set up a research team to push for constitutional reform in two years.

Speaking at the ceremony at KMT headquarters, Ma said that as the largest opposition party, the KMT should take responsibility for improving the reputation of the legislature and overseeing the government's performance on behalf of the public.

"With the number of legislative seats being cut in half, the new legislators will carry heavier responsibilities. I think it is quite meaningful for legislators to make this kind of vow before the elections," Ma said.

He said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should be responsible for promoting administrative transparency and integrity, while urging legislative candidates to pursue clean government if elected.

Asked to comment on the KMT's decision to boycott its own anti-corruption referendum bid, Ma said that the party would continue to fight corruption despite the boycott.

"We will continue to fight against corruption because we still have a corrupt government ... holding a referendum is not the only way to fight against corruption," Ma said.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) also voiced his support for laws that would prevent government officials from belittling the legislature and grant the legislative speaker and commission heads the right to request police protection.

Wang also condemned DPP legislators for resorting to violence to boycott bills.

"Giving the speaker the power to request police protection is not only a good mechanism but also necessary," he said.
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