Taiwan's Additional Challenges: What to do with Legislators Under Investigation

Tuesday October 16, by Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

Should the fox be the one who has a say on who guards the hen house or what type of protection it should have? A similar problem is faced in Taiwan where Legislators who are under investigation for corruption and vote-buying too often sit on committees that oversee legislation on crimes and corruption. Most recent are KMT Legislator Liao Cheng-ching and PFP Legislator Lin Cheng-er sit on the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee. Both are involved in law suits on vote-buying.

These two are under investigation for vote-buying, yet their membership on the committee allows them to review and pass budgets--a potential weapon to threaten or punish those who accuse them; similarly by their positions they have access to files and information which can be used against their accusers or those who will sit in judgment on them.

This again is another problem that Taiwan faces as it tries to free itself from the baggage of the past KMT one-party state. Those with legal power should not have access or rule over areas where there is an obvious conflict of interests.