KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) yesterday said he was planning to take legal action to defend his reputation, after he was described as a person who tends to "pretend to comply while acting in opposition" in a new biography of an ex-top aide to former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).
Siew said the "non-factual" account about himself has caused serious harm to his reputation and severely blemished his person.
"This kind of `political inside story,' which sounds not a bit plausible, is despised by many people aware of the actual situation and will not convince the public," Siew said in a statement.
The new book entitled A Short Biography of Su Chih-cheng (傳略蘇志誠) was written by senior Liberty Times reporter Tzou Jiing-wen (鄒景雯) based on interviews with Su.
According to the book, Su was strongly against Lee's decision to pick Siew as Lien Chan's (
The book quotes Su as saying that Siew, acting as premier, often feigned compliance to Lee but acted just the opposite.
Trying to block the Lien-Siew ticket, Su urged Lee to find Lien another running mate who would help boost Lien's campaign. Su recommended nominating a female candidate, the book says.
But Lee did not accept Su's proposal, according to the book.
Reacting to the allegation, Siew yesterday asserted that he has always abided by administrative norms and political ethics in carrying out his bosses' instructions throughout his political career.
Siew said he felt no shame if he had offended some people for rejecting the "unauthorized orders" given by them.
An aide could overstep his position and be bent on creating discord between his superiors to an unimaginable extent, Siew said in reference to the book.
"After his boss turned down his proposal, he is now making public these `accomplishments.' An aide who has a judgement for propriety and sense of responsibility should never do something like this," Siew said, in an obvious reference to Su.
The book also describes how Su proposed to Lee that Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) be manipulated into replacing Lien as KMT chairman. But Lee did not accept this proposal, either, the book says.
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