A controversy involving the 18-percent preferential interest rate for retired civil servants rages on between the major parties. A day after two former vice-presidents from the KMT became targets of media criticism for receiving the benefit, a KMT lawmaker pointed out yesterday that many DPP politicians are also among the beneficiaries, including chairperson Tsai Ing-wen.

President Ma Ying-jeou has decided to modify the current 18-percent preferential interest rate for retired government employee deposits.

KMT high-ranking officials revealed that former vice presidents Lien Chan and Lee Yuan-tsu would pick up additional 100,000 NTD each month under the new system, which is a shocking news to the public.

This morning, KMT legislator Chiu Yi held a press conference, saying that some former political officials during the Bien administration also enjoy the preferential interest program.

Among them, DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen is most benefitted from the privilege as she is said to have been with the public servant insurance program for 18 years and 5 months.

In other words, she can pick up more than 60,000 NTD in interest every month.

Tsai didn't response to that but the DPP spokesperson told a press conference that the problem of the program is about the system not individual, accusing Chiu for his political maneuvering.

According to Chiu Yi, other DPP high-ranking officials included in the program are former Examination Yuan president Yao Chia-wen, former premier Yu Shyi-kun, former minister of Civil Service Chu Wu-hsien, former presidential secretary-general Chen Tse-nan, former minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo Yao-chi. While the green camp criticizes the new system would result in high replacement ratio, the KMT questions the legitimacy for DPP's claim.

Apparently it is an issue that the two sides would have more to battle about.