6 Aug

I send auspicious good wishes to all those who have come to the opening ceremony of the new office building of the Anti-Corruption Commission – Union Ministers, Union Attorney-General, Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Chairman and members of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and all invited guests. When I was serving as the Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, I was able to approve the fourth revision of the draft Anti-Corruption Law submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission, in the interests of the citizens of Myanmar and the State to further promote the effectiveness in prevention and combatting of corruption. This law has granted wide-ranging powers to the Commission to combat corruption and powers to conduct its work independently. This Commission was also authorized as the body to combat corruption.

Furthermore, when I took the oath of office as the President in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, I said that we would have to exert more efforts to combat corruption. When I received the chairman and members of the Anti-Corruption Commission as President, I gave clear and precise instructions for the establishment of branch offices in Regions/States and in conducting its work to combat corruption without discriminating whether those involved were rich or poor and whether they were powerful or powerless. I recognize the strenuous efforts being made by the Commission to combat corruption from all angles.

I would also like to give my support to the efforts being made by the Commission to formulate a National Level Anti-Corruption Strategy to enable future governments to combat corruption without losing momentum. Just as in other countries of the world, the efforts being made to prevent corruption, conducting awareness-raising campaigns, and initiating prosecutions in our country stand out as good examples of our efforts to reform in accordance with the changing times and changing political system.

The fact that we are able to open this new office building for the Anti-Corruption Commission as a separate building, at a time when Union Government is trying to solve the problem of corruption which has taken root for so many years all over the country, with deep political commitment, will become a milestone in the history of Myanmar’s efforts to combat corruption. This I believe. Why? This is because this new office building which has been built during the tenure of our Union Government is equal in stature as buildings owned by the anti-corruption bodies of ASEAN-PAC member countries. During the tenure of our Union Government, we have opened new commission branch offices to conduct anti-corruption efforts with increased momentum. We have been able to fulfil the needs of the Commission in terms of its physical basic infrastructure and human resources to a certain extent by opening branch offices in Mandalay region and Yangon region as well as the present new office building of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Nay Pyi Taw. 

Besides, to increase the effectiveness of anti-corruption activities, we have made authorizations to open branch offices in Mawlamyine of Mon State and Taunggyi of Shan State.

During this transition to democracy, our government has been working to achieve more progress in the areas of administration, legislation, judiciary, political affairs, economic affairs, social affairs, education and health. Corruption acts as a very significant stumbling block on the path of the nation’s modernization, progress and development. It also impacts negatively on the country’s economic development, the elevation of the people’s socio-economic status, poverty reduction, and efforts to bring in foreign investments smoothly.

In conclusion, I wish to urge all government ministries, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, the media and all the people to join us in making increased efforts to prevent and combat corruption. 

(Translated by Kyaw Myaing)