NEWSMAKER: Ma likely unaffected by controversial sister

Ma Yi-nan * Born: 1940 * Education: Master of Biology, University of Massachusetts * Experience: KMT Central Committee member 2005, vice president of R&D for China Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co 1998-2001

Well-known for her active role in campaigning for her younger brother during elections, Ma Yi-nan (馬以南), Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) eldest sister, recently drew attention when her campaigning and personal history sparked controversy.

Ma Ying-jeou confirmed a story in Next Magazine last month that Ma Yi-nan met Chang An-le (張安樂), the former leader of the Bamboo Union gang who is wanted by Taiwanese authorities, at a campaign party last year held by Taiwanese businesspeople in Shenzhen, China.

Although Ma Ying-jeou denied receiving political donations from Chang and claimed that he had no knowledge of the meeting, his sister's move drew harsh criticism from the pan-green camp for her soliciting support from criminals.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential hopeful Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) camp further challenged her business relations with the Taipei City Municipal Hospital, and accused Ma Ying-jeou of violating the Public Officials' Conflicts of Interests Prevention Act (公職人員利益衝突迴避法) and helping Ma Yi-nan, the former deputy manager of China Chemical Pharmaceutical Co, to win a contract supplying drugs to the hospital during his term as mayor in 1998.

The controversy surrounding Ma Yi-nan continued when Hsieh's camp dug up her past and lashed out at her again for breaking 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.

Ma Ying-jeou acknowledged the incident, and said his sister had been "severely admonished" by their father for her "wild past."

He said he was still trying to determine whether Ma Yi-nan's past would have a negative impact on his electoral performance, but Ma's camp has asked Ma Yi-nan to avoid attending recent campaign events and discussing the disputes with the press.

Before all the recent controversy, Ma Yi-nan was a popular figure at KMT campaign events.

Especially as Ma Ying-jeou's wife, Chow Mei-ching (周美青), insists on detaching herself from her husband's public life, Ma Yi-nan became Ma Ying-jeou's "other half," accompanying him to almost all of his campaign events or campaigning for other pan-blue figures on his behalf since Ma Ying-jeou ran in the Taipei mayoral election in 1998.

KMT Taipei City Councilor Lai Su-ju (賴素如), who has developed a close relationship with Ma Yi-nan since she helped campaign for him over 10 years ago, described Ma Yi-nan as "passionate, chivalrous and outspoken."

"She is a warm and enthusiastic person, like a big sister," Lai said.

Ma Yi-nan, 67 years old, is 10 years older than Ma Ying-jeou, and has three other sisters.

Ma Ying-jeou's late father Ma Ho-ling (馬鶴凌) once described Ma Yi-nan as smart and quick-witted, but expressed regret that he had "failed to teach her well."

Being the eldest sister in the family, Lai said Ma Yi-nan, nicknamed "big sister Ma," liked to take care of others, and her willingness to offer help made her very popular among party members.

"But she is not a politician. Most of the trouble she caused was because she is not familiar with political language," Lai said.

Earlier in January, Ma Ying-jeou denied an accusation from the Hsieh camp that he had received NT$500,000 (US$16,000) in political donations from The National Association of Architects, but Ma Yi-nan said during a telephone interview with CTI TV that her brother received political donations from biotechnology and pharmaceuticals associations.

Lee Shiao-feng (李筱峰), a professor of Taiwanese history at National Taipei University of Education, condemned Ma Yi-nan for getting involved in Ma Ying-jeou's campaign.

Lee said Ma Yi-nan's controversial past and a lack of political savvy made her a troublemaker, although recent incidents surrounding her should not have a huge impact on Ma Ying-jeou's campaign.

"It's a divided society, and we have either pan-blue or pan-green voters," Lee said. "Pan-blue voters will support Ma Ying-jeou despite his controversial sister."