Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
"Let bygones be bygones," Wang said. "I hope the exercise of mudslinging stops right here, and let's create a benign election environment and begin a gentleman's competition, because it is only in the best interest of the party."
Wang, however, said that it does not necessarily mean that he will not press any charges against his rival and that he will be forced to take legal action if he has no other choice.
PHOTO: LIAO CHENG-HUI, TAIPEI TIMES
The Wang camp Monday threatened to file a defamation lawsuit if the Ma camp failed to apologize within 24 hours for making "false accusations" against Wang. Wu Yu-sheng (
He vowed to submit the "evidence" obtained to the party's election supervision committee for further investigation.
The committee, which met yesterday, ruled that the membership of nearly 6,818 members must be resumed and their right to vote in the upcoming election restored. The committee also rejected Ma's proposal to mount surveillance cameras at polling stations to oversee the voting process.
Wang yesterday dismissed the vote-buying allegations and guaranteed that there is no such thing.
"No, there's none whatsoever," he said.
While the Wang camp yesterday re-applied to use Ketagelan Boulevard to hold a campaign rally on the eve of the election after Taipei City police Monday turned down an application it filed on Friday, it is widely believed that city police would again reject their request.
Commenting on the unlikely prospect, Wang said that he respects the decision of the city police and the planned event could take place indoors if it cannot happen outside.
As the Ma camp has announced it would hold several campaign rallies in the run-up to the election, Wang said that his camp is obliged to follow suit.
In addition to the one in Taipei, another is planned in Kaohsiung.
When asked whether the disputes between the two would diminish the odds of their future cooperation or party unity, Wang said that he hopes not.
"I myself will do my best to work with him and I hope he realizes the importance and necessity of cooperation," he said.
Chiang Ming-chin (
He also said that they had received reports that the Taipei City Government has offered free tours or gifts such as tea and cookies to court Ma's potential supporters. However, they decided to withhold the information on Wang's request, with the hope of conducting a "gentleman's rivalry" between the two.
Another spokesperson for the Wang camp, KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (
"We'd really hate to see a simple election become something similar to partisan confrontation," she said. "It is, after all, a party election rather than the presidential election."
When asked whether he would offer any apology, Ma yesterday said that it is important to find out the truth of the matter and that those conducting vote-buying should be the ones to apologize.
If their allegations eventually prove to be true, Ma said that the party will be the biggest loser, no matter who wins the election.
Wu said that it is not necessary for him to, nor will he, apologize, because the allegation is not targeted at anyone particular.
He said he would respect the Wang camp's decision if they decide to file a lawsuit against him.
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