Anti-graft staff told to ditch their VIP cards
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
May 28, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S top anti-corruption official has demanded his staff ditch their VIP cards, commonly given out by Chinese businesses to grant access to discounts or exclusive services, as part of the country's push to defeat graft.
VIP cards in China can offer everything from cheap deals at massage parlors to free gifts in department stores and preferential seating at popular restaurants, and hence offer countless opportunities for abuse by corrupt officials and businesspeople.
According to a circular released by the Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection yesterday, officials and employees in disciplinary and supervisory departments should discard "all kinds of membership cards received in various names" by June 20.
"Although membership cards are small, they reflect big problems of working style," Wang Qishan, head of the anti-corruption commission, said at a meeting promoting the campaign.
The move targeting potential bribery attempts is the latest in the watchdog's fight against corruption.
This campaign is a way for graft-busters to set an example for other Party members by showing they have high standards, Wang said.
"This campaign is not that high-standard. It's necessary and feasible, and everybody should be able to do it," Wang said, welcoming supervision from both within the Party and from the public.
Since becoming Communist Party chief in November, and president in March, Xi Jinping has made battling pervasive corruption a major theme of his administration, warning that the problem could threaten the Party's survival.
A major theme of the fight has been an austerity drive that has emptied top-end restaurants and dented the sale of expensive food and drink, as the Party tries to allay criticism of some officials' extravagant lifestyles.
Wang Yukai, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said of the VIP cards: "It's not cash, but cardholders can enjoy all kinds of benefits and privileges. Whoever offers those cards to officials must have their own motivations.
"The work style of disciplinary and supervisory officials directly affects the results of the entire Party's war against corruption. Such a move shows their determination to strengthen discipline and will also intimidate other corrupt officials," the professor said.
VIP cards in China can offer everything from cheap deals at massage parlors to free gifts in department stores and preferential seating at popular restaurants, and hence offer countless opportunities for abuse by corrupt officials and businesspeople.
According to a circular released by the Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection yesterday, officials and employees in disciplinary and supervisory departments should discard "all kinds of membership cards received in various names" by June 20.
"Although membership cards are small, they reflect big problems of working style," Wang Qishan, head of the anti-corruption commission, said at a meeting promoting the campaign.
The move targeting potential bribery attempts is the latest in the watchdog's fight against corruption.
This campaign is a way for graft-busters to set an example for other Party members by showing they have high standards, Wang said.
"This campaign is not that high-standard. It's necessary and feasible, and everybody should be able to do it," Wang said, welcoming supervision from both within the Party and from the public.
Since becoming Communist Party chief in November, and president in March, Xi Jinping has made battling pervasive corruption a major theme of his administration, warning that the problem could threaten the Party's survival.
A major theme of the fight has been an austerity drive that has emptied top-end restaurants and dented the sale of expensive food and drink, as the Party tries to allay criticism of some officials' extravagant lifestyles.
Wang Yukai, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said of the VIP cards: "It's not cash, but cardholders can enjoy all kinds of benefits and privileges. Whoever offers those cards to officials must have their own motivations.
"The work style of disciplinary and supervisory officials directly affects the results of the entire Party's war against corruption. Such a move shows their determination to strengthen discipline and will also intimidate other corrupt officials," the professor said.
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