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Probe suggests clearing Ma over Wenhu
MRT Line
RESPONSIBILITY: Four Control Yuan members recommended
censuring the Taipei City Government, the transportation ministry and the public
works commission
By Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Feb 11, 2010, Page 3
Four Control Yuan members in charge of probing the Wenshan-Neihu MRT line
yesterday suggested clearing President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of alleged
administrative flaws and irregularities in the design and construction of the
project when he was mayor of Taipei City.
Their report recommended censuring the Taipei City Government, the Ministry of
Transportation and Communications and the Public Construction Commission, and
demanded that the Taipei City Government hold the accountable officials
responsible, Control Yuan member Hung Chao-nan (洪昭男) said.
However, the report was not approved by the Control Yuan’s Committee of
Communication and Procurement Affairs, as some of its sitting members suggested
the four investigators “make the report more convincing,” Hung said.
“Many problems arose with the project one after another — from the initial
design stage, to the awarding of contracts, construction and trial operation.
Even now it often experiences breakdowns. These problems intrigued the present
members and they hoped to learn more details,” Hung said via telephone.
Chen Yung-hsiang (陳永祥), another Control Yuan member investigating the case, said
the report they had presented to the committee was “not comprehensive enough” to
explain the “complexity of the case.”
Construction on the line, planned during Ma’s tenure as Taipei mayor, began in
2002. The line opened last July after 13 weekends of trial operations under
Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌)
The four Control Yuan members met Ma on Feb. 3 to discuss the subject. Ma told
them he was willing to take responsibility for any wrongdoing.
Asked about Ma’s role in the planning of the project and his potential
responsibility, Chen said by phone that the four Control Yuan members had not
dwelled on holding specific officials accountable.
“We might suggest impeaching [specific] officials next time [the report is
presented to the committee] once we can clarify the division of
responsibilities,” Chen said.
Chen said the committee would schedule another time to discuss the proposal.
Responding to the news, Taipei City Government Spokeswoman Chao Hsin-pin (趙心屏)
said the city government respected the Control Yuan’s decision.
“We will reflect upon ourselves with humility,” she said.
Tom Chang (常歧德), former director of Taipei City’s Department of Rapid Transit
System, said the Wenhu Line had flaws, but that the situation had improved after
Taipei Rapid Transit Corp and the system builder made adjustments.
In related news, the Control Yuan’s Committee of Judicial and Prison
Administration Affairs yesterday passed a motion criticizing Minister of Justice
Wang Ching-feng (王清峰) for harming the credibility of the country’s judicial
system.
Control Yuan members Chien Lin Whei-chun (錢林慧君) and Lee Ful-dien (李復甸), who also
proposed impeaching former prosecutor-general Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) — who
consequently resigned — said Wang had failed to discipline the former top
prosecutor.
Wang was also criticized for past comments, including remarks she made while on
a prison inspection during last year’s Lunar New Year period to the effect that
inmates could be released on parole if they hugged her.
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