At the beginning of 2019, then-Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) was caught on camera playing mahjong while on a holiday in Bali: Han claimed that the “state apparatus” has been monitoring him and his family.
In August of the same year, Han claimed that a tracking device had been installed on his car, again pointing his finger at the “state apparatus,” yet failing to put forward any evidence of a tracking device.
Fast forward to this year: The Institute for Information Industry (III) said it has sent a lawyer’s letter to Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Hsinchu mayoral candidate Ann Kao (高虹安) claiming the copyright to Kao’s doctoral thesis.
The III added that it would investigate allegations that Kao had neglected to inform the institute of her plan to take up doctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati or her moonlighting at Servtech Co while being employed as a full-time researcher at the institute.
Kao accused the Democratic Progressive Party of deploying the “state apparatus” to consolidate its political power.
Kao’s brazen reply has turned her into Han Kuo-yu 2.0.
Responding to allegations of using taxpayers’ money to fund her doctoral studies, Kao said in her defense that a “supervisor” at III who thought highly of her had asked her to stay and had approved her proposal to “study while on a business trip.”
So far no one at the institute has come forward and admitted to being the said “supervisor” — a scenario that is not unlike Han’s accusation of a tracking device.
Despite Kao’s claims that she was just a “low-level employee” and is being targeted by the “state apparatus,” she was employed as a full-time employee at the III and received a full salary while studying for her doctoral degree.
During weekends, she traveled around the US, with the additional perk of being able to receive reimbursements for her travel expenses.
Kao’s behavior is in sharp contrast to that of former Academia Sinica president and biochemist Wong Chi-huey (翁啟惠), who sold his house to pay back Academia Sinica for his studies in the US.
Kao reaped every benefit with her clever “scheme,” which allowed her to simultaneously earn a doctorate using public funding, hold a full-time position at III and enjoy a big, fat bank account at such a young age.
While working for a start-up like Servtech, she was even enlisted as a “sales director,” thereby providing her with a second income.
Perhaps Kao, as a “low-level” employee, could clear the controversies by introducing a fellow employee who has had the same experience as her, one who also enjoyed the same perks and benefits. Or, she could submit a copy of her application to III to pursue a doctoral degree or ask the supervisor-in-question to verify her claims.
Even though Kao posted a picture on social media of herself in Servtech’s uniform while presenting a smart company’s solution to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at Computex Taipei 2016, it does not mean that the III had given the green light to her taking on two jobs simultaneously, not to mention the absurdity of casting the blame on the so-called “state apparatus” as Han did.
Lin Han is a junior-high school teacher.
Translated by Rita Wang
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