President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday reiterated his desire that the issue of Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng’s (王金平) Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) membership be resolved internally, and instructed party officials to seek solutions amid a latest proposal that asks the party’s Integrity Committee to look into Wang’s alleged improper lobbying and to clarify the situation as soon as possible.
The proposal, raised by a group of KMT Central Standing Committee (CSC) members led by Chiu Fu-sheng (邱復生), suggested that the KMT Integrity Committee should launch a probe into allegations that Wang abused his power and tried to influence a legal case involving Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), and that the KMT should reinstate Wang’s membership if the investigation found there was no impropriety.
Chiu said the internal investigation should resolve the dispute quickly and clarify the issue so that the party can be united.
“Everyone agrees that the issue should be resolved internally, and I think it’s a good time to launch an internal probe and clarify the situation quickly,” he said.
Several CSC members voiced their opposition to the proposal. CSC member Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) and KMT Legislator Lin Tsang-min (林滄敏) said the party should just reinstate Wang’s membership without any investigation.
Lee also suggested that both Ma and Wang should apologize to the public for causing a social disturbance over their rift.
“It’s about time for the issue to be over. The president and the speaker should offer apologies to the people and resolve the issue internally. It will be faster than a probe,” he said.
Ma said he supports an internal resolution and the proposal would be sent to related committees for further discussion.
Wang’s membership was revoked by the KMT’s Central Evaluation and Discipline Committee on Sept. 11 following allegations that he abused his power by lobbying for Ker. Wang later filed a civil suit at the Taipei District Court to request an injunction against the KMT’s revocation of his membership.
Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, softened his stance on the issue in the following months and he instructed the party to form a special task force to resolve the issue ahead of the Taipei District Court’s hearing on Wang’s lawsuit next month.
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