Mr. Vu Mao: It is necessary to develop sanctions to handle giving Tet gifts to leaders.

Regarding the prohibition of giving Tet gifts to leaders, Mr. Mu Mao said that it is necessary to develop specific regulations, especially sanctions, to handle this issue.

Leaders of the Party, State, central agencies, departments, branches and organizations do not organize visits and New Year greetings to localities; localities do not wish the Central Government a Happy New Year; it is strictly forbidden to give New Year gifts to superiors in any form; localities do not set off fireworks during the New Year, and spend time and money to take care of the poor, disadvantaged people and families with meritorious services during the New Year.

These are important contents in Directive No. 11 recently issued by the Secretariat on organizing Tet 2017. VOV reporter interviewed Mr. Vu Mao - former Head of the National Assembly Office about this content.

Mr. Vu Mao - former Head of the National Assembly Office.

PV:With just over a week left until the end of 2016, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have completed plans to set off fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have also prepared plans to set off fireworks at nearly 40 locations to celebrate the Year of the Rooster. According to the newly issued Directive of the Secretariat, the plan to set off fireworks to celebrate the New Year may have to change. What do you think about this decision?

Mr. Vu Mao: The Secretariat's Directive has many very necessary contents and we need to direct to do it well. The issue of fireworks is also a matter of great concern. According to the Directive, fireworks will not be organized to save money because this year has many difficulties, I think that spirit is good.

However, this is also an important issue. If we see the people's wishes and have a reasonable way to create an atmosphere that is not too costly and does not affect the concern for people in flood-affected areas, we can present, exchange, and discuss it again.

PV: In your opinion, can we still set off fireworks to bring joy to people while still practicing thrift and fighting waste to take care of Tet for the poor and families with preferential policies?

Mr. Vu Mao:In my opinion, it can be done.,In difficult times we are creative, finding things that are reasonable, appropriate, and popular.

PV: People strongly support the Secretariat's Directive but are concerned that Tet is coming very soon, but the authorities have not yet developed regulations to supervise gift giving. Will it be possible to limit the situation of giving gifts and red envelopes to leaders during Tet? Especially, they do not know how to handle it even if violations are discovered, sir?

Mr. Vu Mao: Responsible agencies, Party committees, and State agencies, in the spirit of the Secretariat's Directive, must develop plans for implementation.

For a long time, we have had policies, directives, and decisions, but the sanctions for implementation are not adequate. This time, in my opinion, we must immediately develop specific regulations, especially sanctions for handling. Those who do not strictly implement must be handled, reviewed, criticized, and considered if there is clear evidence.

There must be a strict and public form of discipline, transparency in that matter, then the people will support it. Create conditions for the mass media and people in residential areas to publicly monitor that matter. Resolution 4 of the 12th Central Committee also clearly states that power must be controlled and monitored because corruption is also an issue here. This must be done very seriously and needs close direction like a campaign to make it effective. For a long time, there has been a big gap between what we say and what we do, now we must really talk and do.

PV: The culture of giving Tet gifts has been deeply rooted in society, so how can we strictly prohibit giving Tet gifts to superiors in any form, sir?

Mr. Vu Mao:The difficulty is that this is a traditional culture of Tet, a holiday to show gratitude to those who have helped us in the past. It is a very beautiful culture, but now it has been transformed into a negative meaning, which is essentially corruption.

This is an issue that needs to be carefully studied, discussed, and discussed publicly, analyzed for everyone to understand and condemn such phenomena. Because this is a specific issue of the action program to implement the Resolution of the 4th Central Committee, the 12th Party Congress against negativity, corruption, and abuse of power to commit corruption, which causes loss of public trust. We must regain public trust through very specific actions and things.

PV:Thank you sir./.

According to VOV