KMT, TPP slash public broadcaster's budget; legislator's past 'diploma mill' admission sparks outrage

A proposal by legislators from Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) to slash the Public Television Service (PTS) budget by over 1 billion NT dollars has sparked strong backlash from the media industry. The proposed cuts would leave PTS with only half its current funding, prompting Culture Minister Lee Yung to appeal for the budget to remain untouched. Over 50 program producers have also launched a joint petition to support PTS.

Adding fuel to the controversy, legislator Luo Ting-wei, a key proponent of the budget cuts, has been criticized following the resurfacing of a 2013 PTS program. In the episode of "Who Comes to Dinner," Luo, then a beef noodle shop owner attending night school, openly admitted that he attended classes primarily to "get a diploma" rather than for academic learning. The program highlighted his tardiness and tendency to nap in class, noting his less-than-ideal academic performance.

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I just want a diploma, because people outside only ask me 'What school did you graduate from,' not 'What did you study.'

During the program, Luo stated his desire for a diploma to enhance his public image, responding to a classmate's challenge about being an "empty shell" by saying school knowledge wasn't very applicable to his business. This past admission has drawn sharp criticism from lawyer Lin Chih-chiang, who lambasted Luo's perceived lack of intellectual rigor and professional competence. Lin argued that Luo's rise to a legislative position, despite his past academic approach, demonstrates a strong survival instinct but a deficiency in critical thinking and the ability to handle the responsibilities of his office.

Lin further contended that individuals who "didn't study as children" often end up in positions they are unqualified for, likening Luo's situation to a "monkey in a crown" – an idiom suggesting someone ill-suited for a position of authority. The resurfaced segment has resonated with many netizens, who have flooded social media with comments mocking Luo and the KMT/TPP's move against PTS, with some calling the legislator a "negative example" for children and questioning the quality of political discourse in Taiwan.

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You don't study as a child, and you become a legislator when you grow up, like a monkey in a crown.