The daughter of a county Party chief in Shanxi province, who was dismissed for being paid as a local civil servant without really working for a single day, has regained her job as vice-director of the local environmental protection bureau. This incident is stuffier than the hazy air covering North China this winter, says an article of the 21st Century Business Herald. Excerpts:

Dismissing the official from her post was a punishment. But the symbolic meaning of the punishment was much bigger than its real effects, given the fact she has been reappointed. Her low-profile reappearance confirms the fact that her punishment was only to ease public anger.

Even if her reappointment complies with relevant rules and regulations, the government should not use that as an excuse and should respond to the public's appeals and discontent. If not, the officials will become fearless in abusing their powers.

The disciplinary authority must carry on further investigation to see if her father has acted as an umbrella for her and other people in this process and reassess if the father and daughter have broken the law. Their identities as civil servants should not make them any different from other citizens.

Besides, there must be severe accountability in the personnel system of the government to deter others from committing similar errors.