Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Hsinchu mayoral candidate Ann Kao (高虹安) continues to dodge questions about plagiarism allegations and financial irregularities, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said yesterday.
“In the past few days, Kao has continued running away to avoid public scrutiny,” Ker said, adding that during her “rare” public appearances “she accuses others of pressuring her and trying to tarnish her reputation.”
The government-affiliated Institute for Information Industry, where Kao was employed before beginning a doctoral program in the US, has said that it might sue her over possible copyright infringement.
Photo: CNA
It said that 70 to 80 percent of her doctoral thesis was copied from reports she coauthored while working at the institute without attributing the quotes.
Ker said Kao and TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) should know that “politicians, including legislators and mayoral candidates, must stand up to public scrutiny. Hsinchu voters can judge for themselves” what Kao has done.”
Her party should stop engaging in disinformation campaigns to discredit those who accuse her of plagiarism, Ker said.
Those tactics “will not translate into votes,” said Ker, who represents a constituency in Hsinchu in the Legislative Yuan.
Since first winning a seat in the legislature in 1992, Ker, a Hsinchu native, has won the district in all subsequent legislative elections.
“Is Kao running for herself or for Hsinchu City mayor?” he asked, questioning Kao’s passion for the job.
Ker said that Kao has also been accused of continuing to receive her salary from the institute while being enrolled in the program and defying expectations after graduation by starting a job at a different employer instead of at the institute.
Ker said she might face charges of misappropriation of public funds.
Kao, who yesterday inspected Hsinchu City’s main fruit and vegetable distribution and retail depot as part of her campaign, denies the allegations.
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