TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Deputy Chair Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) on Wednesday suggested former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) may be becoming more forgetful, amid an escalating dispute over alleged misconduct at the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation.
In an interview with UDN, Ma accused former foundation officials Hsiao and Wang Kuang-tzu (王光慈) of fiscal irregularities. He said evidence would be forwarded to authorities, emphasizing his commitment to addressing corruption.
The UDN interview reportedly became strained, with Ma unable to clearly answer who he had tasked with investigating the allegations and repeating his remarks about impartiality multiple times, per Storm Media. Foundation CEO Tai Hsia-ling (戴遐齡) ended the interview early, disappointing both Ma and the reporter.
Responding to Hsiao’s claim that all decisions were approved by him, Ma said that while people his age may forget things at times, he remains capable of functioning. He added that key personnel decisions, such as appointing Hsiao as CEO, would not be made without proper documentation.
Ma also said he would investigate Hsiao and Wang’s visits to China, including the nature of their meetings and whether they involved donations. He said Hsiao should have nothing to worry about if no wrongdoing occurred.
In a Facebook post, Hsiao defended himself, saying his trips to China with Wang were unrelated to Taiwanese businesspeople and were all reported to and authorized by Ma, per Storm Media. He suggested the dispute stemmed from “former President Ma forgetting many things,” which he said had allowed others to drive a wedge between Ma and his longtime associates.
Addressing Ma’s remarks that he had wept over the departure of former aides, Hsiao said such emotions were understandable but based on misunderstanding and lapses in memory.
At a press briefing, Hsiao said those seeking to protect Ma were being pushed aside, while others were attempting to use him to gain influence within the foundation, per ETtoday. He also expressed regret that Ma had refused to meet with him after his departure.
When asked about Ma’s possible cognitive decline, Hsiao declined to elaborate but said Ma had forgotten many details and was casting doubt on matters that should not be in question.
