The National Assembly Standing Committee urged the Government to publicize cases of wasteful spending during a discussion of the Government’s report on the fight against wastefulness on April 12. 

Vice NA Chairman Phung Quoc Hien

The committee acknowledged that the fight against wastefulness in 2017 had recorded progress compared to 2016. The Government has made greater efforts in implementing resolutions of the Party and NA on the issue. 

Vice NA Chairman Phung Quoc Hien said inspection and auditing work had been intensified last year, resulting in the discovery of many illegal violations. 

However, he noted that wasteful use of pubic asset, capital and resources is still prevalent, and the waste of time and labour is seen at different levels. 

The NA Standing Committee agreed in principle to the tasks and measures outlined by the Government to promote the practice of thrift and urged more drastic actions and more severe punishment. Good deeds in the field should receive due praise and reward. 

The Government’s report, delivered by Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, affirmed that administrations and agencies at all levels along with the people had actively worked to promote the practice of thrift and fight wastefulness in all aspects in line with the Law on Thrift Practice and Waste Combat. 

At the same time, it pointed to existing problems and shortcomings, particularly the ineffective use of loans by many major investment projects such as the Nam Thang Long – Tran Hung Dao section of the Hanoi urban railway route No2 and the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway, causing a waste of resources. 

A number of ministries, agencies and local authorities have failed to obey the law’s stipulations on reviewing and reporting work. They did not submit reports on waste combat, submitted reports late or reports did not include required contents. 

The Government admitted that a number of officials, including those in leading positions, have low awareness about the need of fighting waste and sense of responsibility about the work, thus producing limited outcomes.-VNA