TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru indicated Monday that he is reluctant to reinvestigate a slush fund scandal that has rocked factions within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

At the day’s plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the new prime minister said that he will make an “appropriate decision” on the matter.

On so-called policy activity expenses, Ishiba said, “We will discuss how the system (for the expenses) should be operated and work to ensure transparency, with the possibility of abolishing it in the future.”

Ishiba also said that his proposal to establish an Asian version of NATO is an issue he is working on in the medium to long term, saying, “I don’t think it’s something that can be achieved overnight.”

On a possible increase in the financial income tax, he said, “I will not consider it concretely now.”

JIJI Press