President Ma Ying-jeou (堜褙朐) spent more than NT$1 million (US$31,000) flying the presidential plane to stump for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidates for last weekend＊s local elections, the Presidential Office said yesterday, adding that the party would pay the fuel expenses.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (魦濊悜) said since Ma took office in May last year, he has spent more than NT$1.5 million taking the presidential plane to participate in activities not related to his presidential duties.
PARTY ACTIVITIES
Among the NT$1.5 million, Wang said NT$1.01 million was expenses generated by party-〝related activities, including those on stumping for KMT candidates in last weekend＊s elections.
Ma incurred the expenses between Oct. 17 and last Saturday on party-related activities, including NT$979,786 on jet fuel, NT$24,787 on vehicles, NT$7,045 on bullet-proof vehicles, as well as smaller amounts for high-speed rail tickets, standard train tickets and 〝accommodation, Wang said.
Ma had promised to impose stricter standards when using the presidential plane for non-presidential duties and party-related activities, and the president meant what he said, Wang said.
The KMT would pay for the fuel expenses, Wang said.
CHEN＊s TRAVELS
Comparing the figure with the NT$3.66 million spent by former president Chen Shui-bian (蠊漵禶) during his two four-year terms, Wang said: ※Chen＊s expenses were three times more than Ma＊s.§
Wang failed to acknowledge the fact that the comparison was based on differing lengths of time.
Wang said the way Chen calculated expenses for non-〝presidential duties was different from Ma＊s method.
While Ma invoiced the KMT for expenses, Wang said, Chen charged Democratic Progressive Party personnel or private individuals traveling with him on the presidential plane the equivalent of an economy-class plane ticket.
Had Ma calculated the expenses the same way, the KMT would have only needed to pay NT$186,000, Wang said.
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