Four Control Yuan members in charge of probing the Wenshan-Neihu MRT line yesterday suggested clearing President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of alleged administrative flaws and irregularities in the design and construction of the project when he was mayor of Taipei City.
Their report recommended censuring the Taipei City Government, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Public Construction Commission, and demanded that the Taipei City Government hold the accountable officials responsible, Control Yuan member Hung Chao-nan (洪昭男) said.
However, the report was not approved by the Control Yuan’s Committee of Communication and Procurement Affairs, as some of its sitting members suggested the four investigators “make the report more convincing,” Hung said.
“Many problems arose with the project one after another — from the initial design stage, to the awarding of contracts, construction and trial operation. Even now it often experiences breakdowns. These problems intrigued the present members and they hoped to learn more details,” Hung said via telephone.
Chen Yung-hsiang (陳永祥), another Control Yuan member investigating the case, said the report they had presented to the committee was “not comprehensive enough” to explain the “complexity of the case.”
Construction on the line, planned during Ma’s tenure as Taipei mayor, began in 2002. The line opened last July after 13 weekends of trial operations under Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌)
The four Control Yuan members met Ma on Feb. 3 to discuss the subject. Ma told them he was willing to take responsibility for any wrongdoing.
Asked about Ma’s role in the planning of the project and his potential responsibility, Chen said by phone that the four Control Yuan members had not dwelled on holding specific officials accountable.
“We might suggest impeaching [specific] officials next time [the report is presented to the committee] once we can clarify the division of responsibilities,” Chen said.
Chen said the committee would schedule another time to discuss the proposal.
Responding to the news, Taipei City Government Spokeswoman Chao Hsin-pin (趙心屏) said the city government respected the Control Yuan’s decision.
“We will reflect upon ourselves with humility,” she said.
Tom Chang (常歧德), former director of Taipei City’s Department of Rapid Transit System, said the Wenhu Line had flaws, but that the situation had improved after Taipei Rapid Transit Corp and the system builder made adjustments.
In related news, the Control Yuan’s Committee of Judicial and Prison Administration Affairs yesterday passed a motion criticizing Minister of Justice Wang Ching-feng (王清峰) for harming the credibility of the country’s judicial system.
Control Yuan members Chien Lin Whei-chun (錢林慧君) and Lee Ful-dien (李復甸), who also proposed impeaching former prosecutor-general Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) — who consequently resigned — said Wang had failed to discipline the former top prosecutor.
Wang was also criticized for past comments, including remarks she made while on a prison inspection during last year’s Lunar New Year period to the effect that inmates could be released on parole if they hugged her.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MO YAN-CHIH
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