Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) accused President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of breaking his promises after the Control Yuan last week released the latest information on the personal wealth of government figures.
The information shows that Ma’s personal account has increased by NT$2.2 million (US$70,186), in addition to NT$2 million placed into fixed deposit accounts, while first lady Chow Mei-ching’s (周美青) account increased by NT$1.19 million, with NT$200,000 placed into a fixed deposit account.
Ma and Chow together put an additional NT$5.83 million into their savings account, which contains NT$78 million.
Chen said Ma had promised to donate half his salary if his “6-3-3” campaign pledge from the 2008 presidential campaign failed.
The “6-3-3” pledge refers to the goal of achieving annual GDP growth of 6 percent as well as annual per capita income of US$30,000 and an unemployment rate of less than 3 percent.
As the head of state, Ma’s monthly salary is NT$476,000. After taxes, National Health Insurance and public insurance he would have NT$454,900 left, Chen said.
Taking into account Ma’s year-end bonus of NT$714,000, he would have an annual salary of NT$4.97 million, while Chow received NT$650,000 from the 13 percent interest on the NT$5 million in her Mega Bank account, Chen said, adding that it appeared that the first couple was putting all of their income into the bank.
Saying that former premier John Chen (陳沖) had once told the Legislative Yuan that Ma’s past donations had already exceeded half of Ma’s salary, Chen Chi-mai said that if Ma lived up to his promise of donating half of his monthly salary, he would not be able to maintain NT$400,000 in monthly savings over the past seven years.
“What — or whose — money is Ma using to donate if he is donating?” Chen Chi-mai asked.
Chen Chi-mai said Ma should establish a special account before stepping down as president and wire NT$20 million — the equivalent of half of Ma’s salary over his eight years as president — into the account to show that he is a man of his word.
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