VietNamNet Bridge – At the meeting on social-economic situation on June 7, National Assembly deputies questioned that after Vinashin and Vinalines, which state-owned groups will have the same fate?



Deputy Huynh Ngoc Dang of the southern province of Binh Duong said Vietnam has had to pay huge a ‘tuition’ for economic losses at state-owned economic groups like the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) and the Vietnam Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines).

Deputy Le Nhu Tien from the central province of Quang Tri, who is vice chair of the NA Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, compared these groups as “mandarin’s sons” which were corrupted by the state’s overindulgence.

“We were ready to give them money and property without considering their ability. Whenever they faced difficulties, the state was ready to throw money to rescue them. Therefore, they do not want to go equitization but to rely on the state,” deputy Tien analyzed.

“After Vinashin is Vinalines. Constituents are anxious to see whether there are other Vina…,” Tien added.

This was also the worry voiced by Deputy Dong Huu Mao of the central province of Thua Thien – Hue and Huynh Ngoc Dang from Binh Duong at the meeting.

Deputy Nguyen Thanh Tam asked to address the use of state capital and assets at state-owned economic groups and corporations. Tam said Vietnam does not have specific regulations on using state capital.

Deputies also expressed their concerns over losses, squandering and especially corruption.

Deputy Le Nam of the central province of Thanh Hoa said: “Corruption is no longer discreet” and “we have lost many party members and officials.” Nam proposed to have a joint force against corruption.

Deputy Nguyen Van Tien of the southern province of Tien Giang said that people were afraid of going to hospital because they have to face discrimination and have to bribe doctors.

Tien said corruption and bribery now go through family members of officials and it is covered by beautiful words like “gift,” “thank-you gift,” “birthday gift,” “gift for celebrating a new house,” “promotional gift,” etc. Gifts may be credit cards worth ten of thousands of USD, oversea tour for the entire family, expensive cars or even luxurious apartments.



Tien cited Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong as saying that corruption is a disease that we have already known its name and have a prescription for. However, who would take the medicine and how much medicine is enough, Tien asked.

He said the responsibility to ‘force’ the use of medicine belongs to top officials of state agencies. Corruption is serious illness and it needs to be cured by special medicine, he stressed.

Deputy Huynh Nghia of Da Nang city asked to take drastic measures against immoral officials and civil servants.

Bad debts at banks and suspicion over the interest group in banks were also discussed.

Deputy Dao Tan Loc from the central province of Phu Yen mentioned the fact that banks have money but they do not want to lend, because they are afraid of getting loss while businesses want to wait for lower interest rates. He asked the state bank to announce the lowest possible interest rate. This deputy also worried about the influence of an interest group on the monetary and fiscal policy.

“Restructuring banks seems to be influenced by some group of interest. I propose to definitively implement this task, for the national interest,” said Deputy Tran Du Lich of HCM City.

“It is extremely dangerous when interest groups make impacts on the interest of the majority people. Social stability is the stability of the entire political system,” noted deputy Dang.

Phuong Loan