According to a report on October 8 by Taiwan’s United News Network, Taiwanese leader William Lai said while inspecting the disaster situation in Guangfu, Hualian, the extra 200,000 yuan (nt $46,600) for each family to repair and rebuild their homes was turned out to be donated by the Disaster Relief Fund. Kuomintang public opinion representative Qiu Zhenjun 8 query criticized the move is to take the people’s money as the authorities.
Dredging works are carried out in the heavily-hit area of Buddha Street in Guangfu on October 7,2010. Photo: Taiwan Media
The Disaster Relief Fund launched a fund-raising campaign on September 25, with more than 285,000 donations collected as of October 7, according to the report, which said Guangfu Hualian was still recovering from the devastating landslide in the lake, more than 1 billion Taiwan dollars, divided into“Legal relief”, “Disaster relief”, “Project relief” three categories to assist local residents.
On his second trip to Hualian to survey the disaster, William Lai said Taiwan authorities had proposed a series of budgets and increased the amount of money allocated to each household to repair the damage by 200,000 yuan. “Disaster Relief Foundation” confirmed on the 8th, each family 200,000 yuan of housing repair relief money, indeed for the disbursement of funds, and was included in the use of the fund projects.
On the 8th, Taiwan’s legislative body, the “Sanitation Committee”, invited leaders from environmental departments, Labour departments and Ministry of Health and Welfare Departments to give a special report on “Post-disaster recovery, reconstruction and clean-up actions”, and prepare questions. Qiu Zhenjun said during the inquiry that it was of course fine for the authorities to use the donations, but to tell the truth, they could not say that they were given by the authorities when they propagated, and they could not extinguish the love of the donating people, it must be made clear that it is subsidized with public funds.
Cai Zhengyuan, a former representative of public opinion, also criticized that people donate directly to the victims why not? Why must be packaged as“Relief funds”, let the public think that is“Budget”, playing tricks, robbed donors of good name, what is the meaning! William Lai is a disgusting hypocrite!