Originally invited to make a special presentation to the Legislative Yuan over controversial investments in OBI Pharma Inc (台灣浩鼎), Academia Sinica president Wong Chi-huey (翁啟惠) offered his resignation twice in the past two days.
“Currently in the US, Wong spoke to President Ma Ying-jeou [馬英九] on the telephone yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon, saying that, for health concerns, he would like to resign as Academia Sinica president,” Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen (陳以信) told the media yesterday. “Ma did not agree to it on the telephone, and said that he hopes Wong would return as soon as possible to clarify any questions that the public might have and to defend the name of Academia Sinica.”
According a report in the Chinese-language Apple Daily, Wong told Ma that he had been hospitalized in San Diego, California, and the doctor had advised him against flying to Taiwan.
Having been refused on Tuesday, Wong again tendered his resignation to the president by fax, the report said.
Wong has been under fire in recent weeks because his daughter was found to have purchased a large number of OBI Pharma shares with money Wong gave her, after Wong had publicly spoken in favor of the company, triggering accusations of a conflict of interest and legal questions.
Wong has been in the US to attend academic conferences and receive an academic award.
Originally scheduled to return to Taiwan today, the Education and Culture Committee has invited Wong to make a presentation on the investment controversies.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖), who was to chair today’s meeting, confirmed that he has been informed by the Academia Sinica that Wong would be absent from the meeting and that Academia Sinica vice president Wang Fan-sen (王汎森) would attend on Wong’s behalf.
“However, I think Wong should face it himself,” Chen said. “As long as he is still head of Academia Sinica, I will continue to request his attendance. I will wait for him.”
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