Lin Tyh-Ming (林志明), head of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ (MOTC) Directorate General of Highways (公路總局) yesterday abruptly offered to resign following public complaints arising from his misinterpretation of a government measure on paying vehicle fuel charges.
His resignation came one day after Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) voiced discontent over the issue and demanded the related agencies amend the policy.
At a press conference to publicize the ministry’s plans to ensure a travel ticket for everyone planning to return to Hualien or Taitung County for the Lunar New Year, Minister of of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) said that Lin had resigned and would be transferred.
“[Lin] is a gentleman … Although the policy was not put into effect, he offered to resign for the misgivings and disturbances caused. He did not break any law. It was just a problem of interpreting the law,” the minister said.
Four convenience store chains were to raise commissions on vehicle fuel fees from NT$7 to NT$15 per bill from this year and limit the service to people making overdue payments.
Other financial institutions only charge a NT$7 commission.
On Tuesday Wu voiced disapproval over the increase, saying there should not be two systems.
The convenience store chains made the change after the highway agency renewed their contract last September, which demanded the stores prepare a daily sheet on the vehicle fuel fees they collected.
Lin made the proposal after the legislature amended the Government Treasury Act (公庫法) in May, which drew up administrative rules requiring financial institutions and other institutions offering tax-filing services to prepare daily sheets on tax collection.
Mao said Lin had interpreted the vehicle fuel fee as a tax.
Vice Minister of Transportation and Communications William Chen (陳威仁) will fill Lin’s post temporarily.
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