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SCMP Reporter

TAIWAN'S main opposition party the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has accused the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) of widespread vote-buying in the run-up to major elections this Saturday.

  The allegations have come as the Minister of Justice Ma Ying-jeou pledged an unprecedented effort to curb election-related corruption.

  For the first time in the island's history, the positions of the mayors of Taipei and Kaohsiung, and the provincial governor of Taiwan, will be popularly voted into office.

  In Taipei and Taiwan province, the leading margins in opinion polls of the two front-runners, respectively the DPP's Chen Shuibian and the KMT's James Soong, have been considerably narrowed.

  In an interview yesterday, the chief election strategist of the DPP, Chen Cheung-shin claimed the KMT continued vote-buying, albeit in more sophisticated forms.

  'The judicial and police departments are in their hands and we cannot do much about it,' Mr Chen said.

  He said the only consolation was that the 'success rate of corruption' had been brought down because of a higher level of education among voters.

  'Out of 100 people offered bribes by the KMT, only about 20 would vote for them,' he said.

  In the past few weeks, allegations of vote-buying have been filed against campaign officials, particularly those working for KMT candidates.

  The Deputy Secretary General of the DPP, Chiu Yi-jen, also accused the KMT of using military personnel and facilities to help its candidates.

  Mr Ma said the Justice Department had tightened up legislation and stepped up prosecution related to vote-buying.

  'We will try to ensure that candidates and campaign staff dare not engage in corruption,' he said.

  'Moreover, laws will be tightened to the extent that there are no loopholes or grey areas that can be exploited.'   Mr Ma said new legislation would make it possible for the Government to prosecute a candidate if enough evidence had been gathered that he was prepared to or planned to engage in vote-buying.

  The minister, who earlier this year was mentioned as a KMT candidate for Taipei mayor, conceded that anti-corruption laws were not comprehensive enough.

  He said there were no clear-cut limits on campaign spending, or legislation to penalise over-spenders.

  Mr Ma, also a senior member of the KMT, denied his party status would interfere with the administration's fight against corruption, saying he played no role in particular prosecutions.



KMT accused of vote-buying