OPINION> Commentary
Hold officials to account
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-27 07:40

Media in Guangdong have exposed a lavish overseas junket taken by officials, leading to the dismissal of the leader involved. Stricter scrutiny is in urgent need to prevent officials from taking luxurious tours at public expense, comments an article on the website news.xinhuanet.com. The following is an excerpt:

Thanks to video footage taken on a luxurious overseas tour, the officials responsible for this corrupt behavior have been punished. It is reported that the trip was actually approved by higher authorities.

If the higher authorities had known the real aim of this so-call "official trip", the extravagance would have been prevented. Thus it is crucial for local authorities to strengthen supervision, and prevent public revenue from being wasted on officials' personal enjoyment.

(China Daily 02/27/2009 page6)