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Lawmakers oppose NSC restructuring

Legislators yesterday urged National Science Council (NSC), Chairman Wu Maw-kuen (吳茂昆), to safeguard the council from interference by the Executive Yuan's reshuffling plan, which would split up the council (which supervises the nation's science and technological development) into three separate agencies.

At a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's science and technology and information committee, some legislators said they are of the opinion that the development of science and technology remains the nation's top priority and the council should be kept after structural reshuffling of the Cabinet takes place -- or even made into its own ministry.

According to the Standard Organic Law of Central Government Agencies (中央政府機關組織基準法), 37 existing Cabinet-level agencies would be downsized and reshuffled into 13 ministries, four commissions and five independent institutions. The draft was introduced to the legislature last year and is expected to be passed during this legislative session.

The Cabinet-level council, established in 1959 to be responsible for promoting science and technology, is slated to be dismantled in the coming structural reshuffle.

"Most legislators believe that Taiwan should keep competing with the rest of the world, especially in the sci-tech development sector," Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said. "It's too bad that we don't hear any objection from the council about its future."

Wu was also characterized by Lai a voiceless council leader holding "a self-destructive attitude," which would disappoint academic circles and the nation's scientific community.

KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) said that more than 20 academic associations comprised of professionals had expressed their opposition to the disappearance of the council a few days ago, but Wu failed to listen.

"You have to urge Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) to review the draft in order to have the council function as an efficient agency, integrating resources for the nation's future sci-tech development," Ting told Wu.

In response to legislators, Wu said that he had suggested to the Legislative Yuan that the council be kept intact, but it was now up to lawmakers to decide the NSC's fate.

"The draft has been sent to the Legislative Yuan for approval," Wu said.

Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) encouraged Wu to seek to make the NSC's policies practical so that it can survive.

Lo also said that he and his colleagues would do their best to push the legislature to pass the national technology protection law this session in order to maintain the nation's economic competitiveness.

"That's why we want the council could be kept. Hopefully, a more powerful agency in charge of sci-tech development can ensure Taiwan's future," Lo said.
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