President Trần Đại Quang, who is contesting a National Assembly seat, told voters at a meeting in HCM City yesterday that fighting corruption would remain a focus for the country.— Photo thanhtra.com.vn

HCM CITY – President Trần Đại Quang, who is contesting a National Assembly seat, told voters at a meeting in HCM City yesterday that fighting corruption would remain a focus for the country.

“Corruption has for long been a national calamity. And it is one of four major threats to the existence of the regime.”

He stressed his determination to eliminate corruption to strengthen the public’s trust in the Party, State, and Government.

As Minister of Public Security had directly overseen investigations into several cases, he said, but admitted that despite the strong resolve, corruption has not been rooted out.

He urged people to take part in efforts to eliminate prevention.

Lê Công Hoàng, a voter, expressed concern over corruption during the President’s meeting with voters, and asked for specific plans to fight graft.

Quang replied: “In order to fight corruption, people’s power should be mobilised. Priority should be given to seizing property acquired with ill-gotten means. It is a hard task and has not been done well. In future this will be done.”

The biggest challenge was to discover corruption cases, he said.

He urged the public and the media to be more active in identifying people involved in or instigating corruption, promising there would be policies to honour and protect whistleblowers.  

Voter Đỗ Văn Thịnh, 40, told the President he was worried about the country’s public debt situation.

Quang admitted that the public debt was high and said reports indicated it could exceed the permitted level. He called for cuts in public spending and practising thrift.

East Sea issue

Thịnh and several other voters expressed concern about fishermen in the central region being attacked by foreign boats while fishing in Việt Nam’s sovereign waters.   

In response, Quang said the Party and State are deeply concerned that Vietnamese fishing boats are being attacked, and set up a [Coast guard] task force to protect fishermen.

“When local fishing boats are attacked, authorities will offer instant support, collecting evidence by recording video clips to protest through diplomatic channels.”

He stressed that "the nation’s sovereignty cannot be violated".

The military would be strengthened to protect the nation’s sovereignty and independence, he said.

HCM City’s constituency No 1 (Districts 1, 3, 4), from where Quang is contesting, has four other candidates: Prof Dr Trần Đông A; Đặng Thị Thúy Dung, deputy general director of Gia Định Garment Company; Colonel Ngô Tuấn Nghĩa, deputy political commissar of the High Command of the Việt Nam People’s Army in HCM City; and Lâm Đình Thắng, deputy secretary of the city chapter of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union.

Election preparation 

On the same day, a delegation of the NA Standing Committee and National Election Council led by NA Vice Chairman Đỗ Bá Tỵ visited the central province of Phú Yên to inspect its preparations for the upcoming election of deputies to the 14th legislature and People’s Councils for 2016-2021.

Tỵ instructed the provincial authorities to review all preparation and work harder to handle petitions, complaints and recommendations regarding the election. It was also essential to speed up communication work on the significance of the election and information on voting, he said.

Also yesterday, a delegation from the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee headed by the committee’s Vice Chairwoman Bùi Thị Thanh visited the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk to check on its election preparations.

Meeting with local authorities, she praised the province’s efforts. She suggested that authorities disseminate more information, and welcome opinions and recommendations from candidates - particularly those from remote, mountainous and ethnic minority-inhabited areas. — VNS