Lien Sheng-pen Recalls Cancer Diagnosis: 'Phone Dropped from My Hand' — Slams DPP's Indifference to Toxic Oil Scandal

The scandal over Zhonglian's carcinogenic oil continues to escalate. Former KMT vice chairman Lien Sheng-pen posted on Facebook, stating that as a former cancer patient, reports about toxic oil are truly terrifying. He expressed deep anger at the ruling party's indifferent attitude toward the toxic oil incident, describing it as if 'eating it is your own fault,' with no one taking responsibility. He also criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates for failing to speak up for the public, with nearly all of them staying silent and keeping their distance.

Lien recalled the moment he was diagnosed with cancer: 'For someone who has battled cancer, news about toxic oil can be terrifying.' In late 2009, he was diagnosed with a malignant kidney tumor—an absolute thunderbolt. At the time, his youngest son was only six months from being born. When he heard the doctor’s diagnosis, the phone dropped from his hand, and he was completely overwhelmed. The entire process—from hospitalization, surgery, discharge, to suture removal—was extremely painful. He emphasized that no one, whether someone he likes or dislikes, should have to endure such immense physical and mental suffering.

After surgery, lying awake in pain, he kept wondering what had caused his illness. Doctors couldn't give a direct answer—unlike injuries from falls or food poisoning, cancer's causes are complex and hard to pinpoint. However, both his doctors and other experts he consulted later told him that cancer is strongly linked to personal diet—'You are what you eat.'

Since then, Lien has become extremely cautious about food. He thanked his wife for being meticulous about household ingredients, cooking methods, and sourcing, using a scientific approach to ensure their food isn't harmful. But even with such care, when dining out or consuming processed foods, there's no way to know what oil restaurants or food manufacturers use. No matter how careful one is, it's impossible to completely block out toxic ingredients. He believes the vast majority of Taiwanese people, like his family, likely have no idea they've already consumed carcinogenic oil—possibly multiple times. This, he said, is the true horror of the toxic oil scandal.

He expressed fury at the ruling authorities treating the issue as if it's none of their business, adopting an attitude that 'if you ate it, it's your own fault,' with no accountability. He also criticized the DPP—despite having thousands of candidates running in upcoming elections—not a single one has stepped forward to defend the public. Most have kept far away, which he finds deeply infuriating.

'You have to save your own life and defend your own health,' Lien warned. If everyone stays silent and dismisses the health risks of toxic oil, by the time one lies in a hospital bed, wondering what they ate wrong, or regrets not doing more to protect their health in their final days, it will already be too late.

More exclusive reports from Feng Media: - Did TFDA know about the oil plant's loopholes? Lin Shu-fen reveals repeated high monitoring values: 'The early warning system has failed.' - Chen Shih-chung caught 'attending drinking events' during the toxic oil crisis—Li Cheng-hao defends him: 'Abroad, this would be praised as approachable.' - Could the Zhonglian carcinogenic oil scandal have been avoided? He exposes eight years of green-party 'legislative negligence': 'Taiwan consumed toxic oil for 26 extra days.'