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EDITORIAL: Self-interest threatens streamlining

Following conflict and then compromise, the Cabinet finally sent the Cabinet Organizational Act (行政院組織法) amendment bill stipulating 14 ministries and seven other agencies to the legislature for deliberation. The original act, which stipulated eight ministries and two agencies, was passed in 1947. Since then, the world has changed beyond recognition, and though the Cabinet has set up various commissions, the 1947 act still applies.

Over the past three decades, numerous attempts to amend the act were stillborn, mainly because the ministries looked after their own interests. The Cabinet's administrative duties are complex and constantly changing and must be handled by specialized agencies. On the other hand, there are demands that structures, human resources and budgets be streamlined, and arguments for increasing or decreasing the budget are constantly being debated. In addition, officials in institutions or positions about to be merged have done everything in their power to keep the bill from passing.

Although the government and opposition reached a consensus on revising the act during the previous legislative session, the amendment was not completed and the process had to be repeated.

To keep the consensus alive, the Cabinet agreed to set up a human resources office for retired military personnel.

Several Cabinet members opposed the suggestion at last week's Cabinet meeting, but it was accepted following negotiations. The debate in the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) legislative caucus overturned a past suggestion that a ministry for retired military staff be established, instead proposing a ministry for national defense and retired military personnel.

The marine ministry that KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has said would be established if he won the election has not been included in the proposed amendment, which only shows that everyone is working to promote their own interests.

It will be very difficult to pass the amendment because there is always someone who is not satisfied with the latest change. But this is a time of political uncertainty, which could be the best opportunity to pass the amendment. The Cabinet will resign, leaving vested interests with little power to block organizational changes. This serves to diminish pressure and facilitate discussion of the amendment based on the existing agreement.

Some people in Ma's camp and Democratic Progressive Party candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) camp may feel that passing legislation prior to the presidential election would deprive the winner of room to maneuver. An easier way to pass the amendment would be if the opinions of the two candidates were brought into negotiations to draw up a basis for the bill. The future president could then appoint his Cabinet based on that bill and avoid a situation where a group of incumbent ministers try to fight off people who want a piece of the ministerial cake.

Even before taking up the presidency, South Korean president-elect Lee Myung-bak began streamlining the government and declared that the original 18 ministries would be streamlined to 13 ministries and two national commissions. He also appointed new Cabinet members.

After dozens of years of attempted reform, Taiwan's politicians are still busy promoting their own ideas. The difference in efficiency is telling.
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