Hung Meng-kuei Supports Ko Chih-en! Temple Concert Criticizes DPP on Food Safety and Pandemic Response

KMT's Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en held a temple concert at Qingshui Temple on July 7, attracting over 500 attendees. The event featured Hokkien singer Guo Ting-jun and was supported by legislator Hung Meng-kuei, known as the 'son-in-law of Kaohsiung,' along with KMT city councilors Wu Li-cheng and councilor candidate Chen Ruo-cui, showcasing blue camp unity from central to local levels. This marked the beginning of the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election's local defense.

At Qingshui Temple, attended by 500 people, Ko Chih-en presented her blueprint for improving Qingshui's traffic and flood control. Hung Meng-kuei took the stage, first performing 'For You I Struggle,' then strongly endorsing Ko Chih-en. He emphasized that Ko Chih-en, after running for Kaohsiung mayor four years ago, never left Kaohsiung and, after returning to the legislature in 2024, continued to commute between central and local governments, actively advocating for Kaohsiung's construction and resources.

Hung Meng-kuei stressed that elections shouldn't just be discussed in air-conditioned rooms; true local politics means engaging with markets, communities, and temples to directly face citizens. He urged the audience to 'vote for the mayor and send legislators,' promising that if Ko Chih-en wins, he will continue to advocate for Kaohsiung's construction and budget in the central government, forming a cooperative force between central and local levels.

KMT Kaohsiung city councilor candidate Chen Ruo-cui stated that Ko Chih-en has been presenting policy blueprints on education, youth, industry, and transportation, demonstrating her ambition to lead Kaohsiung's transformation and international integration. Councilor Wu Li-cheng noted that during recent grassroots visits, he sensed strong local support and expectations for Ko Chih-en, expressing confidence in the 2026 election.

Regarding Qingshui's development, Ko Chih-en noted that the area has resources like Chengcing Lake, a baseball stadium, medical facilities, and universities, making it suitable for tourism, sports, and lifestyle services. However, it currently faces traffic congestion and flooding issues. If given the opportunity to govern, she would prioritize improving local drainage and traffic, integrating with the Yellow Line metro and developing surrounding land and public facilities, while also promoting the development of Qingshui's furniture industry.

Ko Chih-en directed criticism at the DPP government, condemning the lack of transparency in handling recent food safety controversies involving CPC Corporation. She argued that issues affecting citizens' food safety should be made public and subjected to scrutiny. She questioned, 'If the government can't even ensure food safety, how can it ask citizens to trust it to protect the entire society?'

In response to the DPP's demand that opposition parties apologize to former Health Minister Chen Shih-chung for statements made during the pandemic, Ko Chih-en countered by criticizing the government's vaccine procurement and pandemic policies, which sparked significant social controversy. She noted that many citizens faced vaccine shortages and had to queue for leftover doses, while families who lost loved ones to the pandemic were restricted by then-prevalent quarantine rules from holding proper funeral services. She believed the government should reflect on these past decisions rather than demand apologies from the opposition.

Ko Chih-en further criticized the DPP for using incidents like the Tzu Chi Foundation's fraud case as political tools to divert attention from pandemic policy controversies, stating that this would only further alienate the public. She emphasized that the government should openly accept scrutiny of past pandemic decisions and address food safety issues with transparency.

Ko Chih-en concluded by urging supporters that 2026 would be a pivotal year for Kaohsiung's development direction. She hoped citizens would give her a chance to demonstrate new possibilities in education, transportation, industry, and urban governance. She rallied supporters with the slogan '2026 Kaohsiung let Xiao Lai step down, 2028 can let Da Lai fall,' promising to create a new Kaohsiung with competitive education and industry policies, where children want to stay and the city continues to progress.