In the News

Highway bureau chief resigns

• Publication Date：02/04/2010
• Source： China Times

Lin Tyh-ming resigned as head of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Directorate General of Highways Feb. 3 to take responsibility for the controversy arising from reports of several convenience store chains’ intention to raise service charges for collecting vehicle fuel fees.

MOTC Deputy Minister Chen Wei-zen will step in to fill the post temporarily after Premier Wu Den-yih accepted Lin’s resignation.

According to Executive Yuan officials, the premier became “extremely angry” with the directorate’s inability to come up with a solution to the vehicle fuel charge issue when he raised the matter with aides a day earlier.

The premier reportedly said, “any government officials who don’t have empathy will be transferred to a department that does not directly involve the rights and interests of the general public.”

Sources said when Wu saw a newspaper article Tuesday morning reporting that the method for collecting vehicle fuel charge payments might be adjusted, he immediately instructed Executive Yuan Secretary-General Lin Join-sane to hold consultations to resolve the matter.

According to the sources, although the planned hike in service charges was reported as only being NT$8 (US$0.25), Wu felt the issue was “of grave consequence” as more than 5 million citizens would be affected by the change.

Although Lin consulted with MOTC and Ministry of Finance officials later the same day and they agreed on maintaining the current fee collection system, Wu’s anger over the matter failed to subside, the sources said.

MOTC Minister Mao Chi-kuo’s announcement of Lin’s resignation raised questions among members of the media about whether he had decided to step down due to pressure from the Executive Yuan.

In response, Mao said, “Although the fee adjustment policy was not put into effect, Lin felt he should resign because of the public misgivings that had been caused.”

Mao further told reporters his feelings were mixed over Lin’s resignation in light of his meritorious service in dealing with the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, which wrought widespread devastation when it swept across southern Taiwan in early August last year.

For his part, Lin said he “does not bear any grievances” concerning his decision to resign to take responsibility for the vehicle fuel charge flap. (SB)