Ma’s “Checkers” Speech

From Sunday’s Taipei Times:

"I adopted the dog during an event held by the city government," [Ma Ying-jeou, the chairman of the KMT] said while attending the International Car-free Day event sponsored by the Taipei city and county governments. "I didn’t know the adoption and examination fee was paid for by the [mayor’s office] fund."

[…]

"I thought my wife paid for it, and didn’t know the money was from the [mayor’s office] fund until recently.  Although the budget, accounting and statistics department said the procedure is legal, I was uneasy and paid the money back," he said.

Ma’s accused of embezzling about $90,000 NT ($2,700).  Now he did pay the money back, though it was seven years later, after he was caught.  I don’t blame the moderate independence party for wanting to show that Ma is dirty, but I really hope they pursue this one carefully.  There’s a lot of potential here for Ma to put this dog on national television and make his accusers look like cold-hearted bad guys.

(One question.  Ma Ying-jeou reportedly named the stray Ma Hsiao-jeou.  Is it really the custom here for people to give dogs the family name?)