'Fear of responsibility' spreads from central to local levels: legislator

A phenomenon that officials are afraid of taking responsibility has spread from central to local levels and even from the public to private sector, said a member of the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislative body.

At a Wednesday discussion as part of the ongoing session of the legislature, Tran Quoc Tuan, a delegate representing the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh, said this is a new “disease” of cadres. “We can treat this disease effectively only if we identify its root cause," he said.

According to the legislator, there are two groups of such officials. The first are cadres who show degradation in political ideology and fear of taking responsibility, or do not want to do anything without benefits. The second are those who are afraid of violating the law.

Therefore, he proposed the parliament and the government review, amend and supplement the legal provisions, especially sub-law documents, ensuring they are consistent and easy to be applied.

Tuan emphasized the need to promote decentralization, thus reducing pressure and burden on higher-level agencies, and increasing responsibility of localities and lower-level agencies.

"It is necessary to identify what are the responsibilities of localities, and bravely give power to localities who will take responsibility before the law. At the same time, we must continue strengthening inspection and supervision to ensure the effective performance of official duties," he noted.

Sharing the same view, delegate Duong Khac Mai from the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong said the government should soon take strong enough measures to regain the working spirit of cadres and have a therapy to the “disease” of passing the buck to each other and being afraid of making mistakes.

Meanwhile, delegate To Van Tam representing Kon Tum province said that the fear of responsibility has existed for a long time, not just now. But, it seems to become more complicated and more serious recently.

Some officials with limited capacity and qualifications are afraid of making mistakes so they do not dare to do anything, he said, noting the need to count the number of such cadres.

In a meeting on April 16 chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung noted that HCMC authorities need to proactively spur the city's development rather than relying on MPI guidance.

Fearing the consequence of possible errors, HCMC officials have been reluctant to take decisions in solving growth issues in the economic powerhouse, the MPI minister said while mentioning reasons causing current slow growth.

Dung said the MPI received 584 documents containing questions on administrative and legal issues from HCMC last year. “However, most of the questions were within the city’s power to answer. This is absurd, and shows that we are afraid of responsibility.”