LookAtVietnam – Deputy Chief of the Government Inspectorate Mai Quoc Binh has said his agency is finalising details for the nation’s ratification of the UN Convention Against Corruption.

He said the theme of the dialogue would be “anti-corruption in the construction sector”.

As of May 26, Binh said, 38 ministries, sectors and central agencies, and 28 localities had completed the first inventory of their 2007 assets; 24 ministries, sectors, central agencies and localities had completed their assets inventory for 2008.

Plan adjustments

Following instructions from the Prime Minister, the Government Inspectorate had adjusted its 2009 work plan.

Binh said the scheduled inspections of three organisations, Vinashin, the Viet Nam Insurance Corporation Bao Viet and Petrolimex, would be temporarily delayed.

“These changes will give us more time to focus on development of a programme and specific plans to investigate the implementation of the Government’s stimulus plan and its activities to prevent economic downturn,” said Binh.

He said inspection visits would concentrate on the steel manufacturing industry, loan interest subsidies, diesel subsidies for fishermen, affordable housing construction for teachers and the implementation of concrete school construction.

Binh said his agency would continue with the current land-use inspections in some industrial parks and other development projects in HCM City and Hung Yen, Quang Binh and Dong Nai provinces. Also ongoing would be inspections of the management and exploration of natural mineral resources in Hung Yen province; financial performance of the compulsory social insurance at the Viet Nam Social Insurance; the equitisation of the Viet Nam Tourism Corporation in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City and at some State enterprises under the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) umbrella and at the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT).

“As of late May, the Government Inspectorate had launched 572 inspections, and completed 355 of them,” said Binh.

He said inspectors discovered that VND38 billion (US$2.1 million) was not spent in accordance with auditing requirements and that 64,557ha of land had been used for the wrong purposes.

“We have petitioned to revoke VND21.2 billion of those funds and for all of the 64,557ha of land,” said Binh.

Petitions decline

According to Binh, the number of petitions and accusations filed by people in May reduced compared to April.

“In total, 3,205 petitions and accusations were lodged in May. Only 2,926 of them were worthy of investigation,” said Binh.

In Binh’s opinion, the success was attributed to close guidance from the Prime Minister and great efforts made by staff of the Government Inspectorate and other relevant agencies.

“The fair settlement of petitions and accusations have resulted in recovery of VND598.3 million ($33,600) and 2,777ha of land to the State and individuals,” said Binh.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News