The scandal plaguing the National Security Bureau (NSB) yesterday prompted lawmakers to call for legal measures to prevent a repeat of alleged malfeasance by intelligence officials.
But legislative caucuses differ on how to tackle allegations by former NSB cashier Liu Kuan-chun (
The Liu scandal has already led to the resignation of former national security advisers Yin Tsung-wen (
The DPP raised doubts over the accuracy of the news report but acknowledged the need to enact or revise legislation to ensure the bureau's sound and responsible functioning.
"The uproar provided the NSB with an opportunity to reflect upon its operations," said DPP caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘). "I hope the bureau will learn from its mistake and reform itself accordingly."
Ker said he doubted the accuracy of the press stories, noting that Liu is still a fugitive from justice.
Ker said, however, that the incident attested to the necessity of intelligence laws and the need for a legislative intelligence committee to supervise the agency.
Fellow DPP legislator Lee Wen-chung (
He urged the media to exercise restraint to avoid harming national security.
"The disclosed intelligence will harm the ties between Taiwan and the South Africa," Lee warned. "We hope no leaks will be printed that may threaten ties between Taipei and Washington."
"The Executive Yuan should form a crisis-management panel and probe into the controversy to prevent its getting out of control," KMT legislative whip Lin Yi-shih (
He also demanded an explanation from the Cabinet, saying that the executive branch has been fooling the legislature about its spending.
"I wonder how many more secrets the government has been hiding from the legislature," Lin said. Under budgetary rules, government agencies must turn in all budget surpluses along with a written account of expenditure.
Since 1994, the NSB has pocketed any surpluses and turned them into secret funds to help finance various covert assignments, according to Liu.
PFP legislative leader Diane Lee (
She said the PFP turned the disks over to investigators and suggested a special committee be established to take over the probe.
Her colleague Chou Hsi-wei (
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