President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) eldest sister yesterday denied acting as go-between for a land development project and vowed to take any necessary measures to protect her reputation.
Ma Yi-nan (馬以南), who is known for her active role in her brother’s campaigns, dismissed allegations in the latest edition of the Chinese-language Next Magazine that she helped Da Cin Construction Co negotiate with Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) about cooperating on a land development project.
The magazine said Ma Yi-nan arranged for Da Cin vice chairman Wang Jen-chih (王人治) to meet with Taipower chairman Edward Chen (陳貴明) and Taipower union board member Yao Chiang-lin (姚江臨) at a dinner last year to discuss development projects. It said the incident was an example of her role as a go-between for under-the-table deals between private and state corporations.
Ma Yi-nan said she did have dinner with Wang at a restaurant in the Taipower Building and ran into Yao and Chen there.
“We bumped into each other and chatted during the dinner, but our conversations did not touch upon any land development projects ... Any Taipower land developments or deals must go through a public bidding process, and it’s impossible for any under-the-table deals to be done,” she said in a statement.
She criticized the magazine for not including her response to the story and threatened to sue.
Meanwhile, Ma Ying-jeou defended his integrity and his efforts to keep family members from getting involved in government businesses. He said his wife, Chow Mei-ching (周美青), Ma Yi-nan and her husband either resigned or retired when he was elected the president in 2008 to avoid any conflict of interest issues.
“I don’t want my family involved in government affairs and I would not let our family serve as go-betweens for any improper matters,” he said as he presided over a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Central Standing Committee meeting in Greater Kaohsiung.
Ma Yi-nan has sparked controversy before while campaigning for her brother.
In 2007, she met with Chang An-le (張安樂), the former leader of the Bamboo Union gang who is wanted by Taiwanese authorities, at a campaign party for Ma Ying-jeou held by Taiwanese businesspeople in Shenzhen, China.
Ma Yi-nan has sparked controversy before while campaigning for her brother.
In 2007, she met with Chang An-le (張安樂), the former leader of the Bamboo Union gang who is wanted by Taiwanese authorities, at a campaign party for Ma Ying-jeou held by Taiwanese businesspeople in Shenzhen, China.
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