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Cabinet suspends two NCC members

The Cabinet yesterday disciplined the National Communications Commission (NCC) by suspending two members pending an investigation, requesting that the NCC follow the Cabinet's policies in future and lodging a complaint regarding its punishment of TVBS.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary General Chen Mei-ling (陳美伶) held a press conference late yesterday afternoon, where in addition to introducing the new chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council and the new vice minister for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, she also made the announcement about the NCC.

She said that the Cabinet had decided to suspend NCC members Wu Chung-chi (吳忠吉) and Liu Kung-chung (劉孔中) pending an investigation that they allegedly violated the law by hiring disqualified personnel to be their personal drivers.

Government officials are not allowed to hire family members without a professional driver's licence to be a personal driver. Chen said that Wu hired his son, while Liu hired his brother-in-law.

"This is regarded as corruption. They have been relieved of their jobs as of now and must return the money they paid to the illegal personnel," Chen said.

In addition to the suspensions, the deputy secretary-general requested the NCC follow Cabinet policies.

"Article 53 of the Constitution clearly states that the Cabinet is the top administrative government office in the country. Any government office under the Cabinet shall fully communicate, cooperate and coordinate whenever it is making any plans or carrying out any policy. But, with the NCC, we do not feel that this rule is being followed," Chen said.

Chen also said that some NCC members have too many additional jobs and that these members should quit their additional jobs immediately.

"NCC members should be neutral at all times. However, how can a member be neutral if they are involved in so many other organizations at the same time?" Chen asked.

Chen also explained why the Cabinet was not happy with the punishment the NCC handed TVBS following the TV station's fake report.

"The case against TVBS for allegedly helping gang members shoot threatening footage and the broadcasting of that footage is now under investigation. The Cabinet was not satisfied with the punishment the NCC handed to TVBS. We strongly urge the NCC to formulate a new punishment if prosecutors discover more evidence against TVBS in the near future," Chen said.

In response, NCC spokesperson Liu Zong-de (劉宗德) said yesterday that the commission would discuss the matters raised by Chen and respond today.

Liu said that NCC is an independent organization, unlike, for example, the Fair Trade Commission and the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), which are directly under the supervision of the Executive Yuan. Therefore it was not possible for the Executive Yuan to discipline its members, like it did with the former FSC chairman Kong Jaw-sheng (龔照勝).

Liu said that the commission would send a copy of their response to the Legislative Yuan -- the agency that originally approved the appointment of the commissioners -- and ask lawmakers for their assistance in the case.

Liu said that the laws under which the two commissioners were disciplined may be not applicable in their case, adding that the NCC may appeal their cases to the Grand Council of Justices and request a Constitutional interpretation.
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