DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (3?糮? released a white paper on public construction yesterday, in which he vowed to remove "black gold" politics and bureaucratic problems from the current contracting and bidding system for public projects if elected.
The white paper's release was timed to coincide with the organization of a support group for Chen by some 1,000 architects, civil engineers, structural engineers and electronic engineers.
During the group's first gathering yesterday, Chen announced that his white paper calls for the establishment of "four news" and the breaking of "four olds" (
In the white paper, which was compiled by nearly 100 construction professionals, the "four news" include ending the intervention in bidding and contracts procedures caused by "black gold" politics; making public infrastructure information more transparent; implementing a professional management and licensing system for the construction industry; and undertaking governmental restructuring.
Chen added that the current infrastructure needs to root out "four old" burdens, which he identified as the blurring of the lines between the KMT and the state; collusion between political figures and businessmen; the intervention of gangsters and the bureaucracy that creates an unfair competition environment and corruption scandals; and endangering people's lives through poor construction standards, such as was shown in the 921 earthquake.
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