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DPP accuses Ma's sister of breaking law in 1968

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lashed out at the older sister of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) again yesterday, saying that she broke the law in 1968 when she took the Joint College Entrance Examination for another examinee during her senior year at National Taiwan University's Department of English.

DPP lawmakers at the press conference questioned why Ma Yi-nan's (馬以南) Republic of China passport was not revoked when she was found to be in violation of the law.

DPP deputy caucus whip Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) held up a copy of a 1968 newspaper which said that Ma Yi-nan took the college entrance examination pretending to be another student surnamed Chen.

According to the law at that time, anyone who took the test on behalf of another person could be indicted for fraud if the person passed the test.

Ma Yi-nan escaped indictment because she failed the test.

However, the law also stipulates that individuals involved in the scandal must have their passports revoked.

"Why is it that Ma Yi-nan was able to travel to the US later that same year? Obviously, the Ma family used their connections to get her off of the hook," Kuan said.

DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) said there was a discrepancy in Ma Ying-jeou's defense in the green card controversy.

She said Ma Ying-jeou claimed to have received his green card because his older sister had become a naturalized US citizen.

"According to my calculation, Ma Ying-jeou was granted US permanent residency in 1971, three years after Ma Yi-nan went to the US. How is it possible for someone to get US citizenship after living in the [United] States for only three years?" caucus-whip William Lai (賴清德) said.

When approached for a response, Ma yesterday confirmed that his sister sat the exam.

However, he described the incident as part of her "wild past," saying that she had been "severely admonished" by their father back then.

"She also regretted what she did very much," Ma said. "It happened some 40 years ago, so my family members seldom mention it."

Ma said he was still trying to determine whether Ma Yi-nan's past would have a negative impact on his electoral performance.
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