Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan responded to Chang La Kaohsiung and was questioned to shift the focus

◎ Zaimi

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan recently had an increasingly noticeable habit of answering questions at the city council: when asking questions about Taipei, he often brought Kaohsiung in. If you use a homophone in English, Kaohsiung's K has almost become a must-have for him when answering questions. The "Pull K" mentioned here, K is Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan recently answered questions at the city council. When he asked Taipei, he often brought Kaohsiung into the mix. If you use a homophone in English, Kaohsiung's K has almost become a must-have for him when answering questions. The picture shows Jiang Wanan. (File photo)

On July 17, Taipei City Councilor Yan Ruofang of the Democratic Progressive Party questioned food safety inspections. Jiang Wanan repeatedly asked whether Kaohsiung had conducted inspections. On August 28, the Taipei City Council discussed grilled smoking areas and parasols. When members of the Taipei City Council questioned Taipei City’s funding and policy decisions, he moved out of Kaohsiung’s Jiuru Bridge and Qianzhen Fishing Port.

One can be called a comparison, but when they appear one after another, it is worth asking: What does Kaohsiung have to do with the municipal inquiry that the mayor of Taipei is accepting?

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Comparing cities with each other is originally a reference for governance. The problem is that when members ask how much money Taipei spent on its policy, whether the evaluation was thorough, and what mistakes were made in the decision-making, the responsibility lies with the Taipei City Government. Whether Kaohsiung spends more or less, or whether Kaohsiung has made mistakes, cannot answer Taipei's decision-making.

What's more, Parliamentary Questions and Answers are not a political debate program. The mayor stands at the consultation table and accepts supervision from the public through the members. When facing doubts, the most important thing is to explain your decision clearly, rather than looking for another city to take the lead. Kaohsiung is not the answer card of the Taipei City Government, nor should it be a shield that is conveniently thrown out every time there is a question.

Taipei City Councilors questioned Taipei City’s funding and policy decisions for grilled smoking areas and parasols, and Jiang Wanan moved out of Kaohsiung’s Jiuru Bridge and Qianzhen Fishing Port. The picture shows the Jiuru Bridge in Kaohsiung. (Provided by the Public Works Bureau of Gao City Government)

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai criticized this approach as "asking A and answering B." Although his words were sharp, they pointed out the real controversy: the problem never disappears just by mentioning another city. Why are smoking areas in Taipei built and then demolished? Is the cost of shading facilities reasonable? These can only be answered by the Taipei City Government.

If Jiang Wanan really cares about Kaohsiung, there will be no problem in studying Kaohsiung municipal administration. But as the mayor of Taipei, I should first answer Taipei’s questions clearly.

Otherwise, "pull K" may just be a political joke, and what is really consumed is the significance of parliamentary supervision.

Taipei citizens want answers from the Taipei mayor, not from the Kaohsiung Municipal Government.

(The author is a retired person)