Disappointed by the seventh legislature’s performance a year after its inauguration, Citizen Congress Watch (CCW) yesterday urged lawmakers to focus on their duties, be “civilized” and watch what they say.
“It’s been a year since the seventh legislature began, but instead of setting good examples for the public and focusing on work, our lawmakers often engage in misconduct that breaks the rules they themselves create,” CCW executive director Ho Tsung-hsun (何宗勳) said, citing several incidents involving “inappropriate” remarks or behavior on the part of lawmakers.
In one incident in October, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lu Chia-chen (盧嘉辰) said a colleague needed a husband to stop her from complaining.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) had expressed anger at a government policy at a meeting of the Internal Administration Committee, to which Lu said: “The only way to make Chiu happy is to find her a husband.”
In another incident the same month, DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) slapped KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) after Hung hit Kuan’s office aide.
Kuan was later sent to the Discipline Committee, which suspended her legislative authority for three months.
Also that month, KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) called Kuan “shameless” after the two got into an argument.
Earlier this month, Lu said Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) had suffered a minor stroke two years ago as punishment for the then-DPP government’s decision to change the name of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to National Taiwan Democracy Hall. Lu said the change had offended Chiang’s ghost.
Last week, in response to news that parents with a higher level of education were less willing to have children amid the economic crisis, KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) said: “Today it’s only those lower class workers with a lower education who have nothing that would have children, and their children will just grow up to become homeless people.”
“We regret that, among all these incidents of misconduct, only the case involving Kuan and Hung was sent to the Discipline Committee,” CCW chairman Ku Chung-hwa (顧忠華) said. “We expect our legislature to be civilized, driven by public interests, transparent and efficient.”
In response, Kuo and Lu both said they had not meant to offend anyone. Kuan said it was not fair that the legislature had punished her, but she said she would improve her performance.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
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