Ministry of Environment's Handwritten Badges Spark Outrage at Kaohsiung Event

An event organized by Taiwan's Ministry of Environment in Kaohsiung descended into disarray when participants, including media and a legislative assistant, were presented with hastily prepared, handwritten identification badges. The incident has drawn widespread criticism for its unprofessionalism and lack of respect for attendees.

Journalists and the executive assistant to legislator Lai Rui-long arrived to find their credentials were either modified work passes with names scribbled out and rewritten, or simply "Reporter Pass" handwritten on white paper, requiring recipients to fill in their own details. This presentation left many, including a media professional with 40 years of experience, stunned, with one stating it was the first time they had encountered such a situation.

When shown the makeshift badges, Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Luo Da-sheng and Environmental Protection Bureau Director Zhang Rui-hui appeared visibly taken aback and offered no comment. The Ministry of Environment acknowledged the oversight, attributing the failure to improper supervision of an outsourced event and offering an apology. The incident has sparked discussions about the ministry's organizational standards and its treatment of the press.