Disputes have arisen over the use of donations and government funds after a series of controversial remarks by a former spokeswoman for a self-help group representing people injured in last month’s inferno at the Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) water park.
Earlier this week, Formosa Fun Coast Water Park Victims’ Family Coalition spokeswoman Tang Mei-na (唐美娜) drew ire when she demanded that the central government pay for all medical expenses using National Health Insurance funds and provide financial assistance until all the burns patients recover.
Tang, a resident of Taipei’s Tianmu area (天母), spoke at an event on Monday organized by the New Taipei City Government for the families of people affected by the fire. Her son is one of the burns patients receiving treatment after the June 27 incident.
“We are not beggars. We do not want public donations to pay our expenses,” Tang said. “We [families of people affected by the blast] have paid our share into the National Health Insurance program.”
There was a lot of negative reaction from members of the public to her comments.
People said Tang’s words indicated that she and other families do not want to be associated with lower socioeconomic segments of society, that they are higher-class people and that they want the central government to offer them life-long financial support.
The backlash continued on social media and online discussion sites. Some netizens wrote that they regret making donations to the cause and said they would have preferred to give money to the Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps burns patients.
Fuel was added to the fire after talks Tang had with New Taipei City officials were revealed.
Reports said she flatly rejected a suggestion to use donated money to pay for overtime wages for doctors and nurses working round-the-clock to treat burns patients.
A recording was made public of her requesting that officials gather donations, including those that went to the foundation and other local governments, so the money could be administered exclusively by New Taipei City Government agencies.
The coalition announced that Tang has been removed as spokesperson, while netizens asked why the group is backed by the New Taipei City Government, when it is usually families who form self-help associations, which seldom align themselves with governments.
One netizen wrote: “I am disgusted by her [Tang’s] greedy attitude. She talks as though everyone owes her money.”
Social critic Kuang Jen-chien (管仁健) said of Tang: “Of course you are not a beggar. You are a bandit.”
Another commentator wrote: “Tang has worn out the public’s compassion and generosity for the victims. People should only donate to help medical workers.”
Other netizens searched Facebook, sharing items that appeared to show Tang living a lavish lifestyle, with photographs associated with search terms in her name showing expensive wines and parties.
Her home in Tianmu was estimated by netizens to be worth NT$14 million (US$447,000).
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