Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (
Campaign spokesman Su Jun-pin (
The personnel concerned told Ma's camp they were not informed before their names were added to the list, Su said, adding that it was "ridiculous" for the DOH to mobilize presidents and directors of public hospitals through its administrative system to form Hsieh's support group.
"The medical profession does not belong to the KMT or the DPP. We think it is okay for professionals to express their support of the health policies of a certain party," he said. "But if any party mobilized presidents and directors of public hospitals or [included them in the group] without informing them first, I think it is necessary to do these people justice."
Su declined to name those who had made the complaint.
Su was commenting on the establishment of Hsieh's medical personnel support group in Taipei on Sunday.
The group consists of some 200 members, including 19 professionals who launched the organization, such as Chiu Wen-ta (邱文達), president of the Taiwan Hospital Association, National Taiwan University College of Medicine honorary professor Chen Kai-mo (陳楷模) and Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance president Wu Shuh-min (吳樹民).
Asked for comment while campaigning in Taoyuan, Ma said many medical professionals support him because "they are disappointed that their ideals could not be carried out while the DPP was in office."
"[They support me] not because we are friends or because I have tried to persuade them. They simply believe that people will not have hope if the DPP remains [in office]," he said. "Therefore, their support for us is very rational instead of emotional."
Meanwhile, Ma promised to look into a complaint by New York Taiwanese Businesspeople Association chairwoman Chang Ya-feng (張亞鳳).
A story in yesterday's Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper) reported that Chang had criticized Ma's camp for including her in the name list of Ma's New York support group without seeking her consent.
In response to the accusations, a spokesman for Ma's campaign headquarters said all members of the group were volunteers who came forward willingly.
Chao Tien-lin (
Chao said Ma and his spokesman only made the accusation after being prompted by Chang's complaint.
Additional reporting by staff writer, with CNA
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