On October 24-25, the National Assembly examined and discussed the Anti-Corruption Law and the Law on Thrift Practice and Waste Combat. The two laws have stirred up hot debates and drawn a lot of contributions from lawmakers as well as the public. VLLF hereby introduces some of opinions on these laws.
Nguyen Dinh Loc, former Justice Minister, deputy of Ho Chi Minh City:
“I think there should be an independent and full-time body (to supervise the anti-corruption work). It would help to show our strong willingness to fight corruption. This body would be called a steering board or committee with people from the police, inspectorate, procuracy or other agencies as its members because these agencies are law-defending bodies.
It is important that how we fight corruption. I agree that prevention is the most important but if we need to fight, we must fight resolutely. Any corrupt person in any position must be punished properly.”
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai:
“From 2006, the Government’s annual report to the National Assembly will have an official assessment of the anti-corruption and anti-waste work. Ministers and provincial-level People’s Committee presidents will be answerable to the National Assembly and the People’s Councils respectively for all corruption cases and waste in their branches or localities.
The Government will also take drastic measures to stop waste and loss of state investment capital, considering this a target in the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Law, the Law on Thrift Practice and Waste Combat and the Bidding Law.”
Huynh Van Ty, deputy of Binh Thuan province:
“We don’t lack organizations to prevent and fight corruption. But we lack a mechanism necessary for monitoring and supervising activities of preventing and fighting corruption and we do not treat transgressors severely enough.”
Pham The Duyet, president of the Presidium of Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, deputy of Hai Duong province:
“The issue of personal responsibility is dealt with fairly well by the two laws, but the implementation mechanism is not. In my opinion, if the Front can assume the prime responsibility in supervision work, clear results will be achieved. For example, if the Front is assigned to assess the status and prestige of People’s Council chairmen or People’s Committee presidents, local officials will have to train themselves regularly to gain people’s trust.
This would also be an effective way to fight corruption and prevent waste and also to improve the quality of officials.”
Prof. Dao Tri Uc, vice president of Vietnam Lawyers’ Association, director of the State and Law Institute:
“In my opinion, the Anti-Corruption Law must create necessary legal foundations for prevention and fight against corrupt acts. It should help properly identify corrupt acts; set principles to control the prevention and fight work; determine a system of preventive solutions in economic, financial, social, organizational, personnel and moral aspects. Especially, the Law should specify mechanisms and institutions to directly organize the fight against corruption, direct and coordinate social efforts in this regard. Unless all these requirements are met, the Law would hardly be enforceable. The enforceability of a law is secured not only by institutions.”-