Rising star Sean Lien upsets Ma faction with attack
Attack on state of economy by son of former KMT chairman earns wrath of party members
The son of a former Kuomintang chairman has stirred up a political tempest by saying that given the island's poor economy it does not make a difference whoever is elected next Taipei mayor.
Sean Lien, the son of Lien Chan and a member of the KMT central committee, is seen as a rising political star among the younger generation of the KMT, and he is also one of the hopefuls for the Taipei mayoral position.
However, Lien's observation about the current state of Taiwan's economy has not been well-received by the KMT faction supporting President Ma Ying-jeou.
"With the exception of scheming politicians, most of the public simply doesn't care who runs for Taipei mayor," Sean Lien said during the KMT's central advisory committee meeting on Saturday when asked by reporters if he would run for the position.
He then added: "Whoever is elected would merely be the head of the Beggars' Sect", referring to a fictional martial arts sect made popular by the Hong Kong novelist Jin Yong.
Anonymous KMT members issued a rebuttal that night, saying that all KMT members must stand by the public's side when running for office, rather than seek power and wealth.