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Examination Yuan head nominee rebuts accusations

Chang Chun-yen (張俊彥), the nominee for president of the Examination Yuan, yesterday denied a media report accusing him of taking profits from a financial group, saying it was “absolutely untrue.”

Chang made the remarks in response to a report by Next Magazine, which alleged that Chang took money from the Polaris Financial Group (PFG) by having it pay for his expenses.

“I swear on my life that I did not make any personal profit from the Polaris Financial Group (PFG),” Chang said when mobbed by reporters for comments while attending the Academia Sinica’s 28th Biennial Convocation of Academicians.

“I was given an unpaid position to attend philanthropic events; as a result, they paid for the expenses incurred [such as the driver to and from the events],” Chang said.

“My secretary’s salary was paid by my research grant — anyone is welcome to go and check that,” he said.

In response to Next Magazine’s claim that he had taken stocks from Polaris, Chang said: “Polaris may have donated stocks to the school while I was chancellor, but that is a normal corporate contribution. I did not take a single penny personally from them.”

At a separate setting yesterday, several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators expressed skepticism over Chang’s credentials, and said the magazine’s allegation might influence their decision as to whether to vote for Chang on July 11.

“I’m not the only one [against his nomination]. Many legislators might also reject his nomination. I believe President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will understand,” KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said when approached for comment.

KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) said Chang would not be fit to be president of the Examination Yuan if the magazine’s allegation proved true.
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