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Justice Ministry to probe high turnout reward plan

"Isn't this a form of vote buying?"

Wong Chin-chu, Democratic Progressive Party legislator

Staff reporter

The Ministry of Justice said yesterday it was considering whether or not a county commissioner's decision to reward villages that have a high turnout in the March 22 presidential election constitutes vote-buying.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Miaoli County Commissioner Liu Cheng-hung (劉政鴻) recently said that any village that has more than a 75 percent turnout for the presidential vote would be rewarded with a NT$1 million (US$32,600) construction fund.

The KMT has traditionally enjoyed good support in the county.

"Isn't this a form of vote buying?" Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wong Chin-chu (翁金珠) asked ministry officials during a meeting of the Judiciary Committee at the legislature yesterday.

Wong said Liu may have violated the law or government regulations because he made the offer while also serving as a chief campaigner for KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Deputy Justice Minister Kuo Lin-yung (郭林勇) said that it was legal for a local official to encourage residents to turn out and vote, but if Liu suggested voting for a certain candidate he would have violated the law.

Kuo said the ministry would investigate Liu's policy and his remarks before deciding whether or not it was legal.

He said a conclusion would be reached within three days.

KMT Legislator Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said the ministry should clear the matter up as soon as possible because Taipei County and Taichung County were considering following Miaoli County's lead.

Hsieh said that if Liu were found to have violated the law or election regulations, then Premier Chang Chun-hsiung's (張俊雄) decision that toll stations on freeways should not collect fees on election day should also be investigated.

Chang said that providing toll-free services on freeways on election day would persuade more people to travel home to cast their ballot.

Kuo said Chang's policy was legal because it does not favor either candidate.
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