So I see notice you decided to force the short_open_tag to provide a quick fix? Let me quote from my php.ini for the official PHP developers' stand on this, stated right next to this switch:
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This directive determines whether or not PHP will recognize code between <? and ?> tags as PHP source which should be processed as such. It's been recommended for several years that you not use the short tag "short cut" and instead to use the full <?php and ?> see more tag combination. With the wide spread use of XML and use of these tags by other languages, the server can become easily confused and end up parsing the wrong code in the wrong context. But because this short cut has been a feature for such a long time, it's currently still supported for backwards compatibility, but we recommend you don't use them.
Default Value: On
Development Value: Off
Production Value: Off
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In light of the above recommendation by PHP developers, you may want to reconsider your approach and think about instead revising your code to not include those short tags. =)