VietNamNet Bridge - Many National Assembly deputies proposed the establishment of a fully independent anti-corruption body, which gathers the most outstanding officials who are specialized in anti-corruption tasks at different agencies.

In the group discussion of the revised draft anti-corruption law on November 2, deputy Ngo Duc Manh from Binh Thuan province said Vietnam has a lot of anti-corruption agencies but corruption has not been pushed back but it has been rampant.

Deputy Duong Trung Quoc of Dong Nai province noted that "for many years Vietnam has played a mimic battle with corruption."
 
Therefore, many deputies agreed with the requirement of having a specialized anti-corruption agency, which is independent. But how to make it independent is one of the "embarrassing" things that the draft revised law does not handle, said Danang Party Secretary Nguyen Ba Thanh.

In anti-corruption, investigation is the most important stage. At present, only the police is able to do this task but this is a law enforcement body, whether it is possible to operate effectively in the fight against corruption? Mr. Thanh questioned.

Mr. Thanh pointed out that the anti-corruption machinery must have all the necessary tools to be able to directly handle corruption cases.

Deputy Nguyen Ba Thuyen of Lam Dong province also emphasized that this machine must really do, not only giving guidance.

Chairman of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council Ksor Phuoc said after many discussions on this bill, he had heard so many suggestions on the Anti-corruption Steering Committee. If the committee is under the Government’s management, it is worried that the government plays the role of both “a footballer and a referee” in the same game.

If the committee belongs to the National Assembly, it is inappropriate because the National Assembly is the law-making body. It is also a problem if this agency is under the management of the President because the President will do part of law enforcement and judicial. However, Vietnam still needs a steering board for anti-corruption, in the context of corruption becoming a dangerous intrusion.

Director of the Legislative Research Institute Dinh Xuan Thao suggested the establishment of a fully independent agency, which gathers elite cadres who are specialized in anti-corruption from different agencies.

Also, many deputies wanted that this agency would only combat corruption, not "prevent" it.

NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son said this committee must be under the Party’s direct management so it will be strong enough to promptly handle corruption with high deterrence.

Son shared the information that he had received that the new Anti-corruption Steering Committee would be a strong agency with the expected personnel including the Party General Secretary as the chief, senior officials of the Party, the Government, the National Assembly as deputy chiefs, members of all agencies directly involving in anti-corruption work like the inspection agency, auditing agency, the prosecution agency, etc. as its members.

He believed that the decision-making process related to anti-corruption will not have to pass so many steps.

The revised draft anti-corruption law will be discussed at the meeting hall on November 9.

C.Hoang - X.Linh - T.Thuy