Ho Huu Tai, director of the 50-17D auto registration center in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City has been found to be unable to read or write.

In addition to his illiteracy, an investigation into Tai’s background found that he left school 50 years ago after completing grade three, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security.

Members of the National Assembly (NA) have weighed in on the situation, with many agreeing that the case is unacceptable, and proposed amending and supplementing current regulations on the management of certain centers and agencies.

Regulation needed

In a discussion with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, NA deputy Tran Van Tien shared his surprise that an illiterate person could be appointed to the director post at an automobile registration center. 

Tien also called on investigators to clarify exactly how Tien wound up in that position.

“Vehicle registration centers play an important role in ensuring the safety and quality of motorized vehicles. The directors of these centers must have the abilities to meet the requirements of the job. 

"Violations at the [50-17D] center have definitely impacted society,” Tien said, referring to allegations that Tai, other employees at the 50-17D center, and dozens of other employees and officials at vehicle registration centers across the city had been involved in accepting bribes, brokering bribery, and fraud.

“As a result, [authorities must] review regulations on the capability of directors, as well as employees, at [vehicle] registration centers."

As vehicle registrations centers in Vietnam often have private investors, there is little regulation governing who can be appointed to run such centers. 

Although private investors can invest in vehicle registration centers, it is unreasonable if the directors of such centers, who are legal representatives and regulate their operations, could not read and write.

“He should be a shareholder, not a director. A director needs to meet certain standards in ability and professional knowledge,” said Nguyen Van Thanh, former chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association.

If the ability of directors of vehicle registration centers is not regulated by law, then such laws should be amended, Thanh suggested.

“This is a loophole that needs amending and supplementing immediately. It is impermissible that an illiterate person hold the director post [at a vehicle registration center],” said Thanh.

Vehicle registration periods should be extended

According to Thanh, new vehicles are exempt from registration for up to two years in most countries.

However, in Vietnam, new vehicles are required to be registered immediately.

Thanh said that current vehicle registration regulations are unreasonable.

The Vietnam Register has proposed that the Ministry of Transport scrap the first registration for newly-manufactured, assembled, and imported automobiles for a year from the manufacturing year.

Thanh also suggested extending the registration period for some kinds of vehicles to reduce costs.

For example, the registration period of family-use cars should be longer than that of older cars and cars for commercial use.

In addition, the registration process should be tightened, specifically minimizing the intervention of people and applying advanced machinery and technology, Thanh proposed.

Police officers from Ho Chi Minh City and the Ministry of Public Security earlier launched investigations into 12 vehicle registration centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Long An, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Bac Giang, and Bac Ninh Provinces, and detected various violations and irregularities.

In particular, six cases with 43 people have been prosecuted for allegedly giving and taking bribes and counterfeiting documents.

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