TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Presidential Candidate Ko Wen-je unveiled the party's internal anti-corruption plan on Wednesday (Sept. 13), in response to a series of scandals involving TPP politicians.
The centerpiece of this anti-corruption mechanism is the "third-party reporting system," which will be provided by Deloitte's Third-Party Assurance services. TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je, along with a Deloitte representative, jointly announced this collaboration.
In the future, if TPP party officials are implicated in corruption or unlawful activities such as sexual harassment, party members will have the option to report such incidents anonymously, thereby safeguarding whistleblowers and reinforcing the party's internal framework, according to the joint statement.
When discussing his commitment to combating corruption, Ko recalled a meeting with former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, during which Wałęsa offered three pieces of advice on "transitional justice": address the issues, prevent their recurrence, and pursue accountability.
Ko emphasized his dedication to adhering to these three principles when addressing corruption. As a result, he has pledged to thoroughly examine the background of TPP politicians, proactively seek ways to prevent corruption issues from arising, and establish a third-party platform for reporting illicit activities.
With the recent corruption scandal involving Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an and allegations of party members having ties to criminal organizations, TPP is facing unprecedented scrutiny and criticism.
In response, Ko stated that he would reflect on the party's shortcoming; yet, he also wryly commented that the public doesn't scrutinize TPP with a "magnifying glass" but with an "electron microscope," implying a double standard in holding political parties accountable.