Lawmaker Accused of Budget Miscalculation After Criticizing State-Owned Firm's Sheltered Workshop Purchases

Taiwanese legislator Hung Yu-ling of the Kuomintang (KMT) faces sharp criticism following accusations that her budget cuts to the presidential office's "state affairs fund" led to the cancellation of mooncake gift box orders from 37 sheltered workshops and disadvantaged groups. This action has drawn widespread public condemnation.

Adding to the controversy, Hung Yu-ling then targeted CPC Corporation, a state-owned oil company, alleging it had a zero percent execution rate on its NT$1.43 million budget for procuring goods from sheltered workshops last year. She questioned why critics were not applying the same scrutiny to public enterprises as they were to her actions.

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If you make a mistake, is it that hard to apologize?

However, CPC Corporation swiftly refuted Hung's claim. The company stated that Hung's figure of NT$1.43 million was inaccurate and that they had actually purchased approximately NT$14.75 million worth of products and services from sheltered workshops and social welfare groups last year. This amount represented over 28% of their allocated budget for priority procurement items, significantly exceeding the legal requirement of 10% mandated by the "Physically and Mentally Disabled Persons Rights and Protections Act."

Despite being factually challenged, Hung Yu-ling maintained her stance, asserting her figures came from an official procurement platform and that two CPC units indeed had a zero percent execution rate. She urged CPC to review its practices and increase its procurement this year. Chang Yu-meng, chairman of the Taiwan Youth Generation Association, publicly criticized Hung, stating, "If you make a mistake, is it that hard to apologize?" He pointed out that Hung, a legislator for over two years, seemed unable to understand budget reports and basic mathematics, urging her to apologize for her errors.

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CPC is super calm in refuting Hung Yu-ling. It directly listed last year's procurement from sheltered workshops and social welfare groups totaling 14.75 million yuan. Anyone who knows elementary school math... wouldn't calculate a 0% execution rate, right? Where did Hung Yu-ling's 0% come from?