Rectifying the chaos at Ong Hoang Muoi Temple

Vague donation money

In mid-March, after the incident of a member of the Management Board of Ong Hoang Muoi Temple (Hung Thinh Commune, Hung Nguyen District) stealing money, causing bad public opinion, the temple still welcomed many tourists to offer incense. Inside the temple, after receiving many complaints, the management board also made some changes.

However, as soon as you set foot in this temple, you will still see an unpleasant image that has existed for many years. That is the scene of the parking lot staff right in front of the temple gate, standing in the middle of the road with sticks every time they see cars entering, beckoning and waving customers into the parking lot.

Inside the temple, the Management Board has also installed surveillance cameras at the place where the donation money is sealed. There are signs on the altars that say “Do not offer money on the altar”.

However, according to the reporter's records, most of the people who come to pay their respects are still indifferent to this instruction. Right below that sign, there are still many stacks of money that visitors have offered. This is the source of money that the Temple Management Board has been struggling to find a solution to strictly control over the past time.

The Management Board of Ong Hoang Muoi Temple has 15 members, including 7 working members and 8 security members. Every day, the members are divided into 4 shifts (6-7 people per shift), with the task of collecting donations from the shrines and putting them in the safe. However, whether or not the money is collected and put into the safe is seemingly not controlled.

During the shift on February 25, as usual, Mr. BVT and the members of the on-duty team carried out their assigned tasks, collecting donations from people at the shrines in the temple to put in the donation box. While collecting money at the Central Palace, Mr. BVT stole some money, put it in a cake box, and then took it back to hide in the security room. This process was videotaped by someone. After the press reported it, the police clarified that the amount of money was more than 1 million VND. Hung Nguyen District Police then issued a decision to administratively fine Mr. BVT 2.5 million VND for the theft of property, and returned to the Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Management Board all the money that Mr. BVT had stolen.

The incident raised the question of whether this situation had happened many times before. In particular, this temple had also had many similar incidents in the past. Accordingly, in 2013, the Temple Management Board was discovered to have regularly transported donation money outside to "hire people to count it". The reason for the Management Board's behavior was that "the counting company needed a lot of small change to tip customers, the Management Board had 9 people but did not assign them to count the money because some members were old and sitting for a long time caused back pain". After this incident, the People's Committee of Hung Thinh commune replaced the entire management board, and at the same time replaced the donation box with a safe.

However, not long after that, at the end of 2013, another theft occurred here that caused a stir in public opinion. Accordingly, because the donation money here was quite large, the People's Committee of Hung Thinh commune assigned a number of financial officers and treasurers to coordinate with the Management Board to count the money. While everyone was counting the money, the Deputy Management Board of the temple discovered a commune officer hiding a package of money on his person and brought it under a blanket on a bed in the money counting room. The total amount of money in the stolen package was 20 million VND.

The Management Board then organized a review, this commune official confessed that "he discussed with some brothers to keep this money to drink alcohol during Tet". After a series of scandals, the authorities of Hung Nguyen district stepped in to rectify the Temple Management Board, protecting the annual revenue from donations. Accordingly, Hung Nguyen district directly managed instead of Hung Thinh commune as before.

Since the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district directly managed the temple, the amount of money collected at Ong Hoang Muoi temple has increased many times. Accordingly, in the past, within 11 years, the total amount of money collected and deposited in the State Treasury was only 1.5 billion VND. But since the new Management Board was established in 2014, the average amount of money collected each year is more than 11 billion VND, and in 2023 alone, it was 17 billion VND. Currently, the temple has 14 donation boxes located in 13 palaces and the place where the Management Board works. On normal days, at the end of the day, the money is counted and deposited in the State Treasury. Particularly on the days preparing for the death anniversary of Ong Hoang Muoi (October 10th of the lunar calendar), there are many visitors from all over the country coming to visit and perform mediumship, so it is impossible to count the money during the day.

Will gradually rectify

According to the leader of Hung Nguyen District People's Committee, after receiving the directive document from the Provincial People's Committee, the locality organized many meetings to listen to reports on the management of relics in the area; the operating regulations of the Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Relic Management Board; and the operating regulations of the donation money monitoring team established by the District People's Committee.

“In order to gradually rectify and bring all activities at the relic into order, the District People's Committee has directed the Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Management Board to meet to thoroughly grasp some contents. Stabilize the mindset of those working at the temple, not to waver in the face of incitement and provocation from bad elements. Reassign shifts to ensure the management of all activities at the temple. Assign the task of collecting money on the altars to members of the management board participating in the shift. Implement timekeeping, be serious in wearing uniforms, wearing badges; do not drink alcohol or beer while on duty at the temple. Practice a civilized lifestyle, communicate and welcome visitors. Strengthen environmental sanitation, fire prevention and fighting., security and order", said the leader of Hung Nguyen District People's Committee.

Regarding the case of a member of the management board stealing money, on March 14, the District People's Committee also held a meeting to consider handling the cases during the shift on February 25. Specifically, 1 person was forced to resign from the position of Deputy Head of the Board; 1 person ceased to be a member of the Management Board; 1 person had his labor contract terminated.

According to the leader of Hung Nguyen District People's Committee, the locality is selecting personnel to join the Management Board to ensure the inheritance and effective promotion of the values ​​of the relic. Establish a team to monitor activities and sources of merit at the relic. The management of the team of shamans will be strengthened more closely, and a commitment to implement the regulations of the relic will be implemented.

“The District People's Committee is reviewing and adding some contents to the regulations on management, organization and operation at the Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Historical and Cultural Relic. After issuing the operating regulations, the Relic Management Board will issue documents assigning tasks, internal operating regulations, etc. to ensure that the management and organization of activities are strict, scientific and professional”, said the leader of the Hung Nguyen District People's Committee, adding that the Temple Management Board is also coordinating with the District Police to develop a coordination regulation to ensure security and order. After reaching an agreement, a ceremony will be held to sign a commitment to implementation.

In addition, in the coming time, the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district will also strengthen the management of service areas (booths, shops and parking lots). The People's Committee of Hung Thinh commune will sign a commitment with the owners of booths and shops not to solicit customers, causing discomfort in the relic area.

“The temple’s operating apparatus is mostly made up of citizens from Xuan Am hamlet, while the number of district and commune officials and civil servants participating in the temple’s management apparatus is too small. Therefore, the appointment of people to the Management Board must also be appropriate to the field of work. Furthermore, those who hold concurrent positions are undertaking quite heavy professional work in a period of high specialization, the number of officials is reduced, so some activities at the temple still have a situation of protection and cover-up for each other. In particular, the majority of Xuan Am hamlet residents still have the mindset that the temple belongs to the hamlet,” added the leader of the Hung Nguyen District People’s Committee.