KMT slams Premier Cho as 'three-noes' leader over contaminated oil scandal

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party has strongly criticized Premier Cho Jung-tai, labeling him a "three-noes premier" in relation to the recent contaminated cooking oil scandal. The KMT argues that the government's report on the incident fails to provide the public with the answers they seek.

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The entire report is the government defending itself and giving itself scores, but it doesn't contain the answers the people want to know. Cho Jung-tai has become a true 'three-noes premier': no truth, no apology, no resignation.

KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Chen Yi-hsin stated that the report presented to the Legislative Yuan is merely a government defense and self-assessment, lacking crucial information. He specifically pointed to the absence of clarity regarding the timeline from when the abnormality was detected in Zhonglian Oil to when the government was notified, the cause of the contaminated oil, the quantity distributed, and the actions taken by the Food Safety Office. The KMT insists the government has not clarified the truth or held anyone accountable.

Chen Yi-hsin emphasized that food safety is a fundamental government responsibility. He expressed dismay that the Premier's report contained no formal apology to the public for the widespread public anxiety caused by the incident, nor any expression of regret for regulatory failures. The KMT questions Cho's intent, suggesting he is defending his administration rather than taking responsibility, and criticizes the lack of humility and accountability from the ruling party.

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Food safety is the most basic responsibility of the government. Now that it has caused public anxiety nationwide, the Premier's special report has not a single word of formal apology to the people, nor has it expressed regret for the government's regulatory failures.

The KMT drew a parallel to the 2014 Wei-Chuan food scandal, recalling the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) strong demands for resignations then. They accuse the DPP of applying a double standard now that they are in power, showing leniency towards their own administration's failings.

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In the past, when the Wei-Chuan oil incident occurred, the DPP demanded resignations left and right, but now that they are in power, they have completely changed their standards, fully exposing the DPP's double standards when facing food safety incidents.

Echoing Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's stance, Chen Yi-hsin stressed that the government's priority should be uncovering the truth and restoring public confidence, not rushing to allow products back on the market. The KMT warns that prematurely relisting products while investigations are ongoing will confuse consumers and that any hasty decision to do so would essentially transfer the food safety risk back to the public, proving that the DPP government itself should be removed.

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If the government hastily decides to relist the products, it will once again transfer the food safety risk to the public, proving that the one that should be delisted is the DPP government itself.