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KMT members say ban on campaign gifts lacks teeth

Several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members said yesterday that the party’s failure to actively investigate covert forms of campaigning has rendered its ban on gift-giving and lavish banquets ahead of the Central Standing Party Committee election on July 26 meaningless.

The KMT’s Evaluation and Disciplinary Committee enforced the ban on gifts and banquets on June 5. While some Central Standing Committee members believed the situation had improved since the prohibition went into effect, others said that its effect was limited as gifts and banquets were being given as usual, appearing under various guises, such as banquets celebrating President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) election success or inauguration, with some held well before the start of the ban.

Candidates in the election also questioned the legality of various gifts, including beauty products, biscuits and fruit baskets, which had been sent to party representatives a month or two ahead of the ban.

One KMT candidate, who declined to be named, said yesterday that a relative in southern Taiwan, who is a vote captain, even made an inventory of the gifts received from various candidates.

Inventory

Another candidate, who also declined to be identified, complained that while the Evaluation and Discipline Committee has a myriad of rules governing the use of promotional products that cost less than NT$30, gift boxes costing more than NT$100 continue to circulate.

Juan Kang-meng (阮剛猛), head of the Evaluation and Discipline Committee, said yesterday that the committee had actively encouraged party representatives to inform the committee of any violations of the ban.

He admitted that there was little the committee could do as the ban was not retroactive, allowing early gift givers to evade the regulation.

Nonetheless, the committee is doing all it can to enforce the ban, he said, adding that the candidates are aware of the ban and this could serve as a deterrent against violations.

As for permissible gifts, Juan said that promotional items such as mobile phone accessories and environmentally friendly shopping bags were still allowed.

If in doubt, candidates should consult the committee, Juan said.

Since the ban came into force, the Evaluation and Discipline Committee has not received word of any violations.

Less popular

KMT Legislator Chu Feng-chih (朱鳳芝) said that winning a place on the Central Standing Committee has become less popular since the KMT returned to power.

The Central Standing Committee is not as important as it was during the party’s previous terms in office, as the weekly meetings of high-level party officials have somewhat replaced the decision-making function of the committee, Chu said.
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