Petty corruption

(Baonghean) - On May 5, a national conference on anti-corruption took place in Hanoi. At this conference, for the first time, the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption included in the official conference documents a notable phrase: "petty corruption".

In the section on assessing the results of anti-corruption work, in the content pointing out the limitations, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Head of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption, stated: "Petty corruption, manifested through bribery in the administrative and public service sectors... is still a painful situation." Calling it "petty corruption" is certainly to distinguish the difference in scale, level of violation and level of consequences... compared to "grand corruption", in order to better understand and identify the types of corruption that anti-corruption work must aim to repel, prevent and handle, without exception, without excluding any type of corruption.

The way General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong named and raised the issue of "petty corruption" has really created public interest and attention because the General Secretary has named and pointed out a painful reality that has existed for a long time and caused indignation for the whole society. Called "petty corruption" but it is no longer a "petty" problem, no longer a small matter, because it occurs in many sectors, many levels, many fields, can take place anytime, anywhere, especially at the grassroots level, in departments directly related to people and businesses. "Petty corruption" is something that any citizen can "witness", see with their own eyes, hear with their own ears, even each citizen has been, is or will be involved in many cases of "petty corruption" as a victim, because it has happened very close, every day...

Therefore, "petty corruption" has a negative impact and influence on the image of the government apparatus, administrative agencies, civil servants and public employees at all levels and in all fields. Any citizen can encounter "petty corruption" when participating in any administrative transaction, public service, related to financial activities, banking, resources, minerals, investment... so the address, form and level of corruption are very clear. Anyone can encounter it, anyone can recognize it, because anyone can be "made difficult", "harassed", but because everyone wants to "get things done", wants to "be safe", avoid troubles, avoid consequences... with the mentality of "having to cross the river and depend on the ferry", having to endure "biting the bullet". But when "petty corruption" becomes a problem, a national disaster, wherever one goes one must suffer, wherever one is, one must "swallow the bitter pill", when each person's tolerance is pushed to the limit, it is difficult to endure any more, then the accumulation of painful, resentful feelings in society is extremely large, so its harmful effects are certainly not small at all.

In a developing country with a low average income, a small economy and a modest gross national income, if “grand corruption” and “petty corruption” continue to coexist and try to scratch away at the budget and the people’s pockets, disaster is a predictable outcome. Therefore, Comrade Nguyen Ba Thanh, Head of the Internal Affairs Committee - Deputy Head of the Central Committee on Anti-Corruption, was completely right when he emphasized twice in his report at the National Conference on Anti-Corruption that “corruption is still one of the most pressing issues in society today”. At the same time, the Head of the Central Committee on Internal Affairs warned that corruption “is still a potential factor that risks causing political and social instability”.

However, the good news is that the social concerns about corruption and its risks have been clearly identified and named by the Party's senior leaders, who hold the highest positions in directing the work of preventing and fighting corruption; at the same time, affirming the political determination of the entire political system in the coming time to "fight corruption", handle corruption without exception, without privileges or benefits, and carry out anti-corruption right in anti-corruption agencies. Hopefully, the work of preventing and fighting corruption will continue to have many positive changes, and corruption will be prevented and pushed back. Together with the authorities, every cadre, party member, and every citizen will actively participate in eliminating "big corruption", and consciously cooperate with the authorities to eliminate "petty corruption"!

Ngo Kien