Private-sector representatives urged the government Friday to define the role of a new public corporation scheduled to take over the state-run postal service system in fiscal 2003.

The call was made by representatives from the Japanese Bankers Association and the Life Insurance Association of Japan at a meeting of a study panel of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.

A total of six representatives, selected from the financial industry, consumers' organizations and the general public, spoke at the meeting.

The ministry is expected to draw up a blueprint in November. The new public postal corporation is part of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's privatization initiative.

The entity, which will be affiliated with the government, will take over the state-run mail, postal-savings and insurance operations.

The representatives urged the government to give a legal definition of the public corporation so that it does not pressure private businesses.

They also called on the government to lower the ceiling of postal savings at the corporation and to put a limit on the scope of its operations.

The need for inspections of the firm by financial authorities was also stressed.

Representatives from the National Liaison Committee of Consumer Organizations recommended that private businesses be allowed to enter the postal services in stages so as to reduce mailing fees through competition.

Representatives from the general public, meanwhile, said there is no need to keep postal savings and insurance operations under state control, while saying that confidential mail should be managed by the state to maintain reliability.