Turmoil at Ma Ying-jeou Foundation engulfs former leader ahead of Taiwan elections

A dispute within the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, established to preserve the former Taiwanese leader's political legacy, has spiraled into a bitter public conflict. What began as an internal personnel issue has evolved into criminal complaints and public accusations, drawing in Ma's family and raising significant questions about his health and political standing.

The controversy erupted in late February when two long-time aides, Hsiao Hsu-tsen, the foundation's chief executive and a KMT vice-chairman, and Wang Kuang-tzu, a senior employee, were dismissed over alleged financial irregularities. Ma's camp accused them of serious breaches, including distributing cash bonuses and failing to properly account for a donation from a Taiwanese businessman operating in mainland China.

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Ma's camp accused the pair of serious breaches of financial discipline, including distributing employee bonuses in cash and failing to properly record a donation from a Taiwanese businessman operating in mainland China.

The conflict intensified in May when King Pu-tsung, a former secretary general of Taiwan's National Security Council and a close associate of Ma, publicly displayed a photograph showing Hsiao with bundles of cash. Pu-tsung questioned the proper accounting of these funds, further fueling the public battle.

This internal turmoil has broader implications, casting a shadow over Ma Ying-jeou's legacy and potentially affecting the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), as it prepares for local elections later this year. The ongoing public dispute highlights deep divisions and raises concerns about governance and financial transparency within circles close to the former leader.

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King Pu-tsung – a former secretary general of the Taiwanese National Security Council and one of Ma’s closest associates – displayed a photograph that showed Hsiao with bundles of cash and questioned if it had been properly accounted for.