Phnom Penh (VNA) – Senior Editor at CNC Television of Royal Group and Senior Advisor to the President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CJC) Khieu Kola has expressed admiration for Vietnam’s battle against corruption during a recent conversation with a Vietnam News Agency reporter based in Phnom Penh.

Kola described the anti-corruption drive led by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) under late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as a bold and necessary step forward. This, he noted, has not only strengthened public trust within Vietnam but also bolstered confidence among foreign investors.

As a journalist deeply impressed by Trong’s writings, Kola highlighted the former General Secretary’s role as a trailblazer in this fight. Once the Editor-in-Chief of Communist Review and a renowned writer, Trong famously declared "There are no forbidden zones" when it comes to rooting out corruption and negative practices.

Recently, Kola has been a frequent commentator on CNC Television, discussing topics related to Vietnam, with a particular focus on its anti-corruption progress. His latest programme delved into the pivotal role of current General Secretary To Lam in steering this effort. He detailed how Lam, as head of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, has been actively engaging with leaders across all 63 Vietnamese localities, pushing for a more aggressive approach against corruption.

One of the moments that left a lasting impression on Kola was when Lam, in a conference late last year, stressed the need for a bold, decisive fight against corruption to propel Vietnam into an upper-middle-income nation status. Kola said he had been struck by this unyielding resolve from the Vietnamese Party chief.

The Cambodian journalist praised Vietnam’s approach to handling corruption cases. He pointed out that while those involved in corruption are brought to court and sentenced according to the severity of their offences, the justice system considers mitigating circumstances, offering leniency toward those who have shown genuine remorse.

With experience working for various local and international media outlets in Phnom Penh, fluency in multiple languages, and a deep familiarity with Vietnamese media, Kola has observed firsthand how Vietnam’s press and communication channels have played a crucial role in advancing the anti-corruption agenda. He expressed support for the Vietnamese media and affirmed his commitment to continuing analysis and commentary on related topics, as long as organisations and the public continue to trust and engage with his work.

▨ "I would like to affirm that the trust of the Vietnamese people in the CPV leadership in the fight against corruption is the 'weapon' more powerful than tanks and millions of soldiers. When we are clean and righteous, we will be loved by the people”, he concluded./."