Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday rejected a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator’s allegations that she has obtained millions of New Taiwan dollars in government subsidies through two civic organizations.
“DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) is urged to refrain from making careless insinuations about well-meaning social welfare organizations. Slinging mud at someone’s philanthropic deeds does not make you noble,” Hung said in a statement yesterday.
Hung made the remarks a day after Tuan alleged that two organizations Hung helped establish — the Asia-Pacific Labor Rights Association and the Taiwan Peanut Social Welfare Association — have received about NT$4 million (US$123,541) in subsidies from the nation’s central administrative agencies and state-owned enterprises over the past years.
Tuan said both of the associations are registered under the same address as Hung’s office, which is in New Taipei City’s Yonghe Road, with the named administrators being Hung and her office director, Chiao Cheng-chung (喬正中).
“I would really like to see the KMT caucus draw up a bill prohibiting such actions. What I want to see even more is Hung writing a statement of repentance for what she has done,” Tuan said.
Hung said the two associations were founded by a group of giving and warmhearted community members in 2007 and 2010 respectively and that she and her office staff only briefly served as director-generals during the initial start-up period.
“In an effort to encourage more volunteers to join the associations, we handed over the baton to others,” Hung said, adding that the associations have earned positive appraisals because of their charitable events and the community courses they have offered to women and new immigrants.
Citing statistics provided by the associations, Hung said the Asia-Pacific Labor Rights Association has applied for and received a total of NT$7.06 million in subsidies from central and local governments, as well as state-owned agencies, for the events and educational training it has provided.
The Taiwan Peanut Social Welfare Association has been granted NT$3.25 million, Hung said, adding that all the subsides were applied for and spent in accordance with the law.
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