Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), the newly appointed head of the Executive Yuan, yesterday vowed to combat rampant fraud in Taiwan and said the government would not abandon its goal of creating a “nuclear-free homeland.”
The Cabinet would focus on cracking down on fraud, as well as crimes involving corruption, illegal arms possession and drugs, Cho said in a speech delivered during a handover ceremony yesterday.
The new premier, who took over the role yesterday after Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and his Cabinet tendered their resignation en masse last week, called for support from lawmakers to pass four draft bills that would greatly enhance the government’s ability to combat fraud.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times
He was referring to two draft bills approved by the Cabinet on May 9 — one on fraud crime prevention and another on the use and oversight of science and technology in investigations — as well as draft amendments to the Communication Security and Surveillance Act (通訊保障及監察法) and Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法). All four bills have been submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.
Cho vowed to punish fraudsters for their criminal actions, warning that those who commit fraud would not have their ill-gotten gains for long, as they would be caught and brought to justice.
In addition, Cho said that Taiwan’s economy has become an indispensable part of the world economy, and the government has the responsibility to create a more stable environment for economic development.
The government would continue to push for green energy development while maintaining a stable power supply, and would never give up on the pursuit of a non-nuclear homeland, he added.
The ceremony held at the Executive Yuan was attended by Chen and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
Chen, who had served as premier since Jan. 31 last year, following the resignation of then-premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), said combating fraud is an important task for the new administration, adding that the government would rise to the task under Cho’s leadership.
Hsiao said that Cho comes to the position with solutions to problems and fresh thinking, with the ability to listen to local voices and work to build a Taiwan that is democratic, peaceful, innovative and prosperous.
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