The fight against corruption must be a focus for the Government, administrations at all levels and the public sector in 2008, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

Speaking at a conference on corruption in HCM City last Saturday, he said the task was important for maintaining political stability, boosting socio-economic development, and building a strong Party and State based on upright and well-qualified personnel.

"We must be determined to prevent and fight corruption in every Party cell and by every Party member."

The fight against corruption had recorded significant achievements last year, thanks to the strong determination shown by the Party and State, concerted efforts by concerned agencies, and active participation by the political system and the public.

But corruption and wrongdoing remained "serious" and "complicated" problems, especially with regard to land administration, public construction works, budgetary expenditure, and public assets.

This was because of the loopholes in the anti-corruption mechanism and policies, lack of co-ordination among concerned agencies or personal accountability on the part of unit leaders, and the deficient self-criticism at State agencies.

"This year, we should strengthen education of State officials in preventing corruption, anti-corruption laws, and the moral example set by President Ho Chi Minh.

"We should [also] complete the laws on corruption and accelerate administrative reform. The preventive and anti-corruption laws must be comprehensive, feasible, and cohesive."

The quality and efficiency of State inspections, auditing, investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption cases had to be improved and denunciations by the public promptly handled, he said.

Heads of ministries, localities, and public firms should intensify the fight against corruption and squander at their agencies, while social organisations, businesses, the media, and the public had a major role in the task.

The anti-corruption taskforce had to be improved as did the Central Steering Committee and local committees against corruption.

The experiences and lessons drawn from the corruption fight last year had to be applied while drawing up this year’s action plan to improve its efficacy.

The Central Steering Committee for anti-corruption reported that 584 cases involving 1,299 people had been discovered and disposed of.

Of the VND 865.4 billion (US$55million) involved in these cases, VND112 billion had been recovered, it added.

Source: VietnamNews.