Taiwanese opposition questions sports venue contract, mayor vows investigation

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has raised questions about the contract for the Miaoli City National Sports Center, alleging it was awarded to a specific company to benefit them. Legislator Lin Yueh-chin and DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng held a press conference on August 28 to voice these concerns.

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public office will proactively send the case to the Ministry of Justice Investigation Agency's Miaoli County Investigation Bureau to clarify any doubts.

However, Miaoli City Mayor Yu Wen-chung strongly refuted these allegations. He stated that the public office would proactively submit the entire case to the Ministry of Justice Investigation Agency's Miaoli County Investigation Bureau to clarify any doubts. Yu emphasized that municipal construction should not be used as a tool for political manipulation or election smears.

The mayor explained that government subsidies and city hall investments only covered the "empty shell" hardware of the venue. The successful bidder, a company with a listed background, invested NT$48 million in renovations and equipment. This investment, Yu argued, ensures high-quality, internationally competitive services for Miaoli residents and prevents the venue from becoming a "white elephant" due to lack of maintenance funds, a common fate for public facilities.

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municipal construction should not be used as a tool for political manipulation or election smears.

Yu also addressed the DPP's claim of sending materials to the investigation bureau, stating the city office had already compiled all relevant documents. These include adjustments to the badminton hall's scope of work, changes in royalty calculations, and all procurement and contract execution records. The office will submit these to the Miaoli County Investigation Bureau, asserting that all procedures strictly adhered to the Government Procurement Act and related regulations.

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The DPP questioned the awarding of a contract for the Miaoli City National Sports Center, alleging it unfairly benefited a private company.

Furthermore, Yu criticized Lin Yueh-chin for misrepresenting the city's "National Sports Experience Voucher" program. The program uses NT$1 million from the NT$2.6 million annual royalty fee to issue approximately 10,000 vouchers annually, aiming to benefit Miaoli citizens and encourage exercise. Yu accused Lin of deliberately distorting this initiative to claim favoritism towards a specific operator, solely for political attention. He urged Lin to stop smearing the hard work of grassroots public servants.

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Lin Yueh-chin has distorted the city office's care for citizens' budgets into favoring specific businesses, which is completely inverting right and wrong for political attention.