Ma Ying-jeou Foundation Turmoil: Lee Te-wei Says Ma's Family Will Respond

(CNA, Taipei, 21st, by reporter Liu Kuan-ting) The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation recently established an investigation team to probe whether former aides Hsiao Hsu-tsen and Wang Kuang-tzu violated financial discipline. However, the foundation has also questioned the team for delaying progress and not publishing a report. Lee Te-wei, a member of the investigation team and a director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, said today that he has been in contact with Ma's family to understand their thoughts and opinions, and believes that Ma's family will respond and take action. The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation recently formed a three-person investigation team to investigate Hsiao Hsu-tsen and Wang Kuang-tzu for financial indiscipline. But the foundation claimed that since the team's establishment, it has failed to produce a report and has demanded the team submit it by the 27th. The foundation issued a press release last night, stating that it was not that a board meeting wasn't convened, but that two consecutive meetings were aborted because the three directors on the team, including Lee Te-wei, chose not to attend. The foundation will subsequently prepare relevant materials and ask the competent authority to intervene. In a radio interview today, Lee Te-wei said that the foundation's board of directors is the highest authority, and no single foundation staff member can make decisions. He stated that the three-person team has its own procedures and needs for convening meetings or submitting a report, and outsiders cannot dictate terms. Lee emphasized that the investigation is wrapping up and a report is being prepared. The three-person team cannot accept the foundation setting a deadline for its conclusion, as the team was formally established by a board resolution. He stated that he is not obliged to accept a press release casually written by foundation staff and issued with the foundation's seal. Regarding the foundation's threat to hold a press conference if the report is not submitted by the 27th, Lee said that considerations must be given to whether this involves the privacy of former President Ma Ying-jeou and the foundation. He stated that not just anyone, including former National Security Council Secretary-General King Pu-tsung, can just decide to hold a press conference, and the acting executive director has no such authority. He warned foundation staff not to do anything illegal, or he would definitely take legal action. Lee also mentioned that the investigation team has been in contact with Ma's family and fully understands their thoughts and opinions. The family's opinion is very simple: they hope to protect Ma Ying-jeou's health and ensure that his past contributions continue to be recognized, so they want the investigation team to handle the matter properly, not just rush out a report. Lee stated that Ma's family is very concerned about Ma Ying-jeou's health, and the three-person team certainly respects the privacy of Ma and his family. He couldn't elaborate further on this part but believes that Ma's family will also have a response and take action, and will make their stance known.