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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 KMT primary hopeful rejects claim of Ma support
Former minister of health Yaung Chih-liang holds up a check for NT$7 million as he registers for the Chinese Nationalist Party’s （KMT） presidential primary at party headquarters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
UNDER THE BUS: The Chinese Nationalist Party’s presidential primary opened with one contender wasting no time distancing himself from party elites
By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA
Former minister of health Yaung Chih-liang （楊志良） rejected claims that he had registered for the Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） presidential primary at the behest of President Ma Ying-jeou （馬英九） and former National Security Council （NSC） secretary-general King Pu-tsung （金溥聰）.
Yaung, while when registering at party headquarters yesterday, said that if any evidence showed that he had been in contact with the two over the past six months, he would immediately withdraw his registration.
Yaung is the second person to register in the primary, after Legislative Deputy Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu （洪秀柱） on Sunday.
Yaung said that the last time he had been in contact with either Ma or King was in 2011, when both asked him to run for a legislator-at-large seat, adding that if Ma and King supported him, he would not have had such difficulties garnering party member signatures.
Yaung said he collected 32,089 signatures from party members endorsing his bid, adding that he would have had at least 10 times as many if he had received support from Ma or King.
“Both Hung and I are running for the first time, showing that the party is making progress with reforms,” Yaung said, adding that he hoped party members would give him and Taiwan a chance.
Responding to questions on Ma’s perceived support for KMT Chairman Eric Chu （朱立倫） to run in the presidential elections, Yaung said that any such support was mistaken, adding that he was confident that he was the only KMT member who could win in an election against the Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文）.
Ma yesterday appeared reserved in his comments on the KMT primary after his recent repeated calls for Chu to represent the KMT drew a backlash from within the party.
Ma said he was hoping for “competitive” candidates to step forward to participate in the primary.
“Only if people who can compete come forward will there be a candidate with a relatively high possibility of winning,” Ma said.
He compared the nomination process to a local government inviting bids for a public construction project, saying that the hope is that candidates “with a strong record” submit an application.
Ma declined to respond when asked whether Chu should be considered a “corporation with a strong record,” while denying press rumors that he or his associates had sought to prevent Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng （王金平） from seeking the party nomination.
Ma added that he did not have any right to command potential candidates, saying he was merely expressing his hope as a party member.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
