Premier Mao Chi-kuo today demanded tough law enforcement in cases of government corruption and clarification if any unfounded corruption allegations are made.
Heads of ministries and agencies are influential in government anti-corruption efforts. They should set a good example and help establish a clean government, and all anti-corruption units should perform their duties, Mao urged.
The premier gave these instructions as he chaired the central anti-corruption committee's 14th meeting.
An opinion poll by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) shows that citizens consider "businesses offering money or other benefits to influence government policies" the chief type of governmental corruption, Mao pointed out.
Committee members at the meeting proposed factoring in "practical influence of position" when amending the Criminal Code of the Republic of China and the Anti-corruption Act in the future. The premier asked the MOJ to consider this suggestion and discuss it with committee members when needed.
In response to a suggestion by a committee member, the premier instructed the MOJ to draft a standard operating procedure and work guidelines for agencies' anti-corruption meetings as soon as possible. He also asked all government ethics departments to help their respective ministry or agency heads to enhance the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.
Another proposal was to enact laws to protect whistle-blowers in public-sector and private-sector organizations. For public-sector whistle-blowers, the MOJ has already submitted a bill to the Executive Yuan for review. The ministry has also been tasked with assessing the feasibility of drafting laws to protect private-sector whistle-blowers. Such safeguards would require cooperation among multiple professional fields and competent authorities; hence, the MOJ will consult with government agencies in charge of fiscal, economic, financial, transportation and labor affairs as well as committee members.
After being briefed by the Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) on the oversight and management of its investments, the premier pointed out that the VAC must strictly follow the laws and regulations governing state investment and carry out thorough oversight and management of its various investment affairs. In particular, state representatives taking up the role of board chairman or supervisor in state-invested enterprises should enhance their professional knowledge and avoid conflicts of interest. Moreover, they should exercise their supervisory role to safeguard the government's rights and interests as a shareholder.
In extending assistance to and oversight of investment affairs, the VAC must strictly adhere to the Company Act and the Securities and Exchange Act. Meanwhile, the competent authority, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), should carry out various policy demands regarding corporate governance, such as advocating enterprises to shoulder social responsibilities, promoting entrepreneurial trustworthiness, and conducting forums or seminars on business ethics. It should also enhance and consolidate various clean governance measures in order to reinforce business ethics and improve businesses' social image.
As for the FSC's report, the premier pointed out that certain enterprises and manufacturers have ignored corporate ethics and committed illegal acts, disregarding social responsibility in their pursuit of profit. Even though the agencies with jurisdiction have dealt with these businesses in accordance with the law, the premier also hopes enterprises exercise more self-restraint so that the government will not have to prosecute them and clean up their messes. The premier also asked the FSC to continue to oversee publicly listed companies to ensure they thoroughly carry out their corporate responsibilities.
Enterprises are a link to social stability, the premier pointed out. Not only must they run businesses based on sincerity and integrity in obtaining profit, they must also fulfill their social responsibilities of repaying society and taking into consideration fairness and justice, such as properly distributing their profits to generate the maximum welfare for society.
At today's meeting, a member of the Agency Against Corruption (AAC) proposed an extraordinary motion asking the administration to set up a clean-governance roadmap on the Internet, so that the public can easily monitor and understand that they need not commit such illegal acts as bribing administrative departments. The premier tasked the AAC to expedite the enrichment and integration of related information to establish a database for clean governance. The AAC stated that it is proceeding with the task and formulating a clear and simplified depiction of clean governance to facilitate public understanding.