Ma Ho-ling

Infobox Person
name = Ma Ho-ling


caption =
birth_date = birth date|1920|11|9
birth_place = Xiangtan, Hunan, China
death_date = death date and age|2005|11|1|1920|11|9
death_place = Taipei, Taiwan
other_names =
known_for =
occupation = Official of Kuomintang
nationality = ROC
spouse = Qin Houxiu
children = Ma Yinan, Mai Naixi, Ma Bingru, Ma Ying-jeou, Ma Lijun

Ma Ho-ling (Chinese: 馬鶴凌; Pinyin: Mǎ Hèlíng; November 9, 1920-November 1, 2005) was a high official of Kuomintang and the Republic of China. He was the father of Ma Ying-jeou, the President of the Republic of China.

Biography

Ma was born in Xiangtan, Hunan in 1920. He graduated from Central Political School (now National Chengchi University). He married Qin Houxiu in 1944 and came to Taiwan in 1948.

Ma was a Director at Youth Supervision Committee of the Executive Yuan and Vice Chairman of Performance Committee of Kuomintang.

Ma Ho-ling had a strong influence on his son Ma Ying-jeou. In an interview in 2004, he said that he wanted his son to run for president. [ [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/08/10/2003198142 Ma shrugs off father's aspirations] , "Taipei Times", Aug 10, 2004.] But in 2005 he strongly opposed his son to run for Kuomintang's Chairmanship and even threat to commit suicide if Ma Ying-jeou would not give up his candidacy. [ [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/06/01/2003257467 Ma's father to kill himself if son runs against Lien] , "Taipei Times", Jun 01, 2005.]

Ma Ho-ling died of a heart attack in 2005. [ [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/03/08/2003404569 Presidential election 2008: 14 days to go: Premier Chang agrees to 'Taiwan Weekly' inquest] , "Taipei Times", Mar 08, 2008. ] The inscription on his urn said: "Replace independence with gradual unification, strengthen China and work towards unification." When this inscription was disclosed, President Chen Shui-bian took advantage of it as evidence that Ma Ying-jeou did not love Taiwan. [ [http://easttowest.tumblr.com/post/18092314 DPP and KMT Trade Stupidities] .]

During the 2008 presidential elections, Chuang Kuo-jung, an official of the ROC Ministry of Education, accused Ma Ho-ling of having affairs with various women. After arousing public anger, Chuang apologized and stepped down from his post. [ [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/presidential%20election/2008/03/19/147766/KMT-lawmaker.htm KMT lawmaker claims ghost writer wrote Chuang's apology] , "The China Post", March 19, 2008.]

Notes