Cutting Presidential Office's Discretionary Fund Affects Vulnerable Groups? Weng Hsiao-ling Demands Lai Ching-te Pay Out of Pocket, Pan Men-an Responds

Taiwan's Legislative Yuan recently passed a proposal by Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Weng Hsiao-ling and others to fully delete and freeze NT$30 million in the Presidential Office's discretionary budget—comprising a reduction of NT$10 million and a freeze of NT$20 million. This decision has directly affected the Presidential Office's annual procurement of gift boxes from vulnerable and social welfare groups. The order for 15,000 Mid-Autumn Festival gift boxes, originally planned for purchase from 37 protected workshops across the country, has been abruptly canceled.

In response, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held a press conference on the 20th, urging the public to support disadvantaged groups and hoping to inspire broader societal contributions.

Regarding Weng Hsiao-ling's comment during an interview that President Lai Ching-te should pay out of pocket for the gift boxes, Pan strongly criticized her, stating that while she has the right to speak, such a demand is akin to an arsonist arriving at a fire scene and asking firefighters how to put out the blaze, or a murderer or hit-and-run driver going to a hospital to ask doctors how to save a patient. He emphasized, "Don't benefit from the situation while pretending to be righteous," and affirmed that both the Presidential Office and President Lai Ching-te would personally fund the purchases.

Pan also quoted the Gospel of Matthew from the Bible, saying, "Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing," explaining that acts of public welfare and kindness by the president and public officials should be done quietly, without fanfare, but that they still carry responsibility and duty.