Ma, Hsieh stress identity in debate

Both showed respect and tolerance towards homosexuals, but fell short of promising to immediately legalize same-sex marriages.

Hsieh said he respects human rights and there should not be any discrimination against gay love, adding that society should look at gay issues with an open mind.

Ma noted that “sexual orientation is by nature deserving of respect and toleration,” adding that “people need to learn how to tolerate and appreciate homosexuality.”

When working as mayor of Taipei between 1998 and 2006, Ma went on, his administration started allocating a special budget for gay activities in 1999, earlier than most municipal governments including Hamburg.

“Taipei is the freest city in Asia for homosexuals,” according to Ma.

Despite expressing sympathy for gay rights, however, neither Ma nor Hsieh committed themselves to legalizing same-sex marriages, saying only that the matter needs to be further reviewed as most nations are still tackling the same issue.

“I respect same-sex marriage, but it has to be cautiously planned,” Ma said, adding that “we still need to struggle for equal rights for gays.”

Corruption

Concerning the corruption issue, Ma said not a single senior official at the Taipei City Government had ever been indicted for corruption while 21 in the central government and the Kaohsiung City Government have been either indicted or sentenced.

Hsieh shot back by saying that Ma himself was the first presidential candidate in the nation ever indicted over the misuse of his special allowance fee as mayor.

One of Ma’s Junior clerks was already convicted of using other people’s invoices to claim Ma’s special fee as a convenience measure, Hsieh said.

Ma owes the people an apology, he said.

As for his own senior aides, Hsieh, said some of them have been acquitted.

Ma, a former justice minister, said his personal indictment and acquittal enhanced his conviction for the need of better protection of human rights and reform in the nation’s judicial system.

Both said they will place their stocks into trusts and prohibit family members from engaging in stock trading.

Ma even said others in his family will not engage in politics.

Promises

Hsieh attacked Ma for failing to fulfill his promises to complete the Neihu Line of the mass rapid transport (MRT) system in Taipei, clean the water of the Tamshui River, bring prosperity to the snackers’ Round Circle, and inaugurate the Beitou Gondola.

Ma said that the underground earth structure of the line was more challenging, but the new line will open to business on June 1 next year.

Concerning the Beitou Gondola, Ma said a vice minister of interior in the DPP administration is still under trial for corruption in the case.

About the river water quality, Ma said the river was under the jurisdiction of the Water Conservancy Agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs while around 80% of water in the river was affected by residents in the Taipei County.

The two candidates will face off in a second televised debate on March 9.

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