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AmCham is spot on: The Cabinet is inefficient

In its 2004 Taiwan White Paper, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham) said a lack of adequate coordination and communication between government agencies showed that the new administration of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) needs to work hard to remove obstacles to business and thus rejuvenate the economy.

This was not the first time AmCham demanded that the government improve its game. However, its timing is crucial on this occasion, because the report presents an opportunity to the new administration to accelerate reforms immediately after being returned to power.

For over 50 years under Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rule, the bureaucracy developed a uniquely passive character, failing to react in a timely fashion to the needs of the public. This inefficiency is deeply rooted in government practice, despite the fact that the KMT lost power in 2000.

Although the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has made a tremendous effort over the past four years to streamline government agencies, the overall result is rather disappointing.

The DPP's lack of experience in government constitutes the main source of Cabinet inefficiency. The bureaucracy's reluctance to implement orders has entangled most ministers at some time.

Despite the fact that the Chen administration has completed a proposal to reform government, the bills executing this proposal have been tangled up in political wrestling in the opposition-dominated legislature. No progress was made before the presidential election in particular.

Because Chen pledged in his inauguration speech to streamline the bureaucracy and increase its efficiency, it is his responsibility to promote the issue and generate the momentum needed for reform.

A large-scale merger of departments with overlapping functions is urgently needed, not only because it would strengthen international competitiveness but also because it would help to serve the best interests of industry and foreign investors.

To achieve this goal, the Executive Yuan should give top priority to restructuring by combining ministries and departments, implementing new mechanisms of oversight and overhauling procedures for developing policy.

Most importantly, eliminating corruption and forging better relations between central and local governments would meet public demands for a cleaner political environment.

There is also an urgent need for government agencies to abandon antiquated thinking and identify the deficiencies and responsibilities of each agency.

We need to view AmCham's call for government reforms as a top priority for the government. In the face of China's growing economic power and increasing pressure on opening direct links, it is imperative that the government strengthen its bureaucratic capacities.

The Chen administration can find no excuse to shirk this responsibility. It must face up to the challenge. With a new mandate, Chen has no other choice but to bring about institutional reform. The DPP should make government efficiency the most important element of its next campaign.

It takes considerable determination and persistence to downsize government and improve efficiency.

As government priorities gradually turn to domestic issues, the Cabinet should insert fresh energy into its policies and find new ways to convince voters of its ability.

Liu Kuan-teh is a Taipei-based political commentator.
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