The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday lambasted the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for lacking sincerity in returning its improperly acquired party assets, with only less than 2 percent of its dubiously obtained real estate being returned so far.
"While the KMT refuses to return its stolen party assets, the Ministry of Finance has to negotiate and ask them to return it to the state coffers," said DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (
Lin made the remark during a breakfast meeting with finance authorities to discuss the progress of reclaiming the state properties improperly acquired by the KMT.
According to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Lee Ruey-tsang (李瑞倉), the KMT should have handed over 144.51 hectares of real estate by now -- with a market value of NT$21.9 billion (US$650.1 million).
However, it has returned just 1.86 hectares, or 1.29 percent of the total.
DPP caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday that the KMT lacks sincerity in renouncing the ownership of its questionable party assets and continues to obstruct the bill governing the survey and disposal of assets and properties of political parties and their affiliates that his caucus has proposed.
The bill has been blocked by the pan-blue dominated Procedural Committee seven times since the beginning of this legislative term in February.
DPP Legislator Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬) called on the People First Party (PFP) caucus to endorse the bill proposed by his caucus. Another DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) asked the finance ministry to exert itself to redeem the KMT's stolen assets.
Lee, however, said that until the bill governing the survey and disposition of assets and properties of political parties and their affiliates clears the legislature, he is afraid that the government can only appeal to the KMT's conscience.
Responding to the DPP's remarks, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday requested that the DPP produce the evidence to prove its claim that his party's assets have been improperly acquired.
"The crux of the problem lies in the DPP's lack of concrete testament to prove their claims," he said.
KMT Deputy Secretary-General Chang Che-shen (
"This allegation is purely politically motivated," he said. "All of our party assets are lawfully obtained and have legal documents to prove their legitimacy."
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