Some people have been trying to tarnish the Cabinet's image deliberately by making scandalous allegations against its members, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday.
Yu made the remark during an interpellation session in the legislature in response to questions from DPP legislator Charles Chiang (江昭儀), who was airing questions based on suspicions that some ulterior motives were behind recent allegations.
One of the cases cited by Chiang was the high-profile allegations involving Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲), acting Minister of the Department of Health, in which he was accused of making unwanted passes at a man. Another example concerned Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪), chairwoman of the Public Construction Commission, claiming Kuo's residence included some illegal structures.
Yu said he feels that some people have taken advantage of these incidents to "loosen the Cabinet's teamwork."
"Lately, I've gotten the feeling that outside influences are oppressing the Cabinet's image deliberately," Yu said.
For instance, Yu said, he is often asked by the media whether the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan have plans to replace certain ministers, when such plans have never even been considered.
Yu affirmed that there is an acute awareness in the Cabinet of the importance of teamwork, saying the Cabinet will continue its effort to reform the country's financial, legal and political systems and will not let these allegations affect the implementation of its policies.
During yesterday's interpellation session, developments in Twu's case became a main focus of opposition legislators.
After a dramatic face-off on Thursday between Twu and the alleged victim, Cheng Ko-jung (鄭可榮), at a KTV parlor where the harassment allegedly took place two months ago, PFP Legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) yesterday made public some conversations taped after the incident to try to reject Twu's claim that he was not at the scene at all.
KMT Legislator Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) criticized Yu for failing to order an immediate investigation after Lee gave him a petition letter from Cheng last week.
The delay forced Cheng to go public because Yu was not able to adequately protect his subordinate, Lu argued.
In defense, Yu said the petition letter of offered insufficient grounds for the Cabinet to step in as the name of the accuser had been removed.
The Executive Yuan has not set any limits or held any prejudices in handling the case and has referred it to the Ministry of Justice for investigation, Yu said.
Yu promised that Twu would be replaced if he were proven guilty.
"If there is any person who can prove that he was at the KTV, we will adjust his position immediately," Yu said.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi-shih (
Yu, however, said that Twu had taken a half-day leave to take care of his personal affairs, and it is his prerogative to take personal leave.
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