Retired provincial chairman jokes about discipline.

Responding to the press about the Central Inspection Committee's conclusions regarding his wrongdoings while in office, former Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham The Dung said: "I've retired, they can do whatever they want."

This statement is seen as "joking" with Party discipline when Party members violate it, especially in the context where cadres and Party members nationwide are highly anticipating the resolute fight against corruption and the efforts to build and rectify the Party that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the Central Committee are determined to implement.

The disciplinary action against retired officials, revoking their titles as "former ministers, former secretaries, former chairmen" in ministries, departments, and localities for violations they committed while in office, is perhaps a first in the effort to intensify the fight against ideological and moral degradation and illegal behavior of Party members, especially those holding key positions in Party and government agencies.

These forms of discipline demonstrate a resolute spirit to purify the ranks, preserve the Party's reputation, and make it ever cleaner and stronger, in the spirit of "no forbidden zones" and that there is no such thing as a "safe landing."

Former Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, Pham The Dung. Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong (The Laborer) Newspaper

Normally, a self-respecting person, upon hearing a complaint or receiving a disapproving glance from others, would close the door and reflect on themselves. For someone who once led a province, who was once considered the "parents of the people," even more self-respect is needed when considering what they have said and done, and they cannot simply say that retirement is the end of it. Because that is the responsibility of a Party member to their ideals and their oath of honor to the Party.

The actions of the former Chairman of Gia Lai province while in office, which the Central Inspection Committee concluded constituted "serious violations" requiring disciplinary action, included: directing the construction of a road to import timber from Laos in violation of regulations; violations in land management; and directing the appointment of unqualified relatives... Particularly serious was the violation in converting 50,000 hectares of degraded forest land to rubber plantations, leading to deforestation, poverty, and long-term economic, social, and environmental consequences.

However, when questioned by the press about his wrongdoings, the former provincial chairman casually remarked, as if nothing had happened: "I retired two years ago, let them deal with me however they want!"

A statement that anyone who heard it could sense the mockery of a former provincial leader, who disregarded the Party's discipline regarding errant Party members, believing that, having retired, there was no need to save face!

The former provincial chairman said this nonchalantly because he thought that, at most, he would only be "removed from his title as former provincial chairman," similar to the disciplinary action of a warning given to former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang... and nothing more.

That's a harsh statement, unacceptable to anyone. But unfortunately, it's the truth. The truth is that disciplinary measures that target reputational damage seem to have little effect on these kinds of retired officials!

At the 11th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption late last year, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said: "Practice is the standard of truth, and the law is supreme. There are some laws that are not yet sufficient, and we must adjust them."

From the conclusions of the General Secretary to the statement of the former provincial chairman, it is thought necessary to adjust the mechanism for monitoring, detecting, and promptly handling wrongdoings of officials and civil servants while they are still in office.

For retired individuals, if wrongdoing is discovered, stronger forms of punishment must be applied. Criminal liability should be pursued if their wrongdoings cause serious consequences for the State, citizens, or are related to corruption.

Even if it doesn't warrant criminal prosecution, but warrants expulsion from the Party, removal from all previous positions, forfeiture of pension, and mandatory compensation for serious economic losses, it's still a necessary measure. This is to instill fear not only in those currently in office but also to prevent retirees from disregarding discipline. We cannot allow retired individuals to trifle with disciplinary action, as the former Chairman of Gia Lai province did.

According to VNN