My dear esteemed citizens,
On this auspicious New Year day I
send these greetings to all esteemed citizens with blessings for your good
health and well- being.
My dear esteemed citizens,
On the day I took my oath of office
as President in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on 30th March 2018, I spoke about the
three priority tasks of our Union Government. Furthermore, I have already
spoken about the 11 tasks that needed to be carried out for the implementation
of the above three priority tasks in my Myanmar New Year day message of last
year.
As my New Year day message for this
year, I report to you how much our Union Government has been able to achieve in
the implementation of our goals during this third year.
Our Union Government has undertaken
sector-wise reforms. If we were to show visible and tangible results you would
see our successes to a certain extent in the area of preventing and combating
corruption, a chronic disease which has taken deep roots for many
administrations. Our Union Government has been taking action against corruption
in accordance with the law without favoring anyone with only the interest of
the people and the country in our minds. We were able to establish branch
offices of the Anti-corruption Commission in the regions/states and set up
Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs) in the ministries.
With regard to combating narcotic
drugs, apart from the usual actions, we have initiated a special project by
making it easy to report direct to the Office of the President. We have
elevated the powers of the anti-narcotics police and on the other hand we have
started using the reward and punishment system effectively. Because of this it
may be seen that we have been more effective and successful.
Our ability to transfer the General
Administration Department to the Ministry of the Office of the Union Government
is also a significant reform measure because the GAD is an administrative
organization that has daily contact with the people. This is because as our
Union Government implements the reform measures it is necessary to begin our
reform measures from the grass roots level and the GAD is one of the key
departments.
We were able to give more
agricultural loans than in previous years to improve the lives of farmers; at
the same time efforts are being made to ensure that unnecessary obstacles and
delays are eliminated in the settlement of land ownership cases. In the same
way, in the case of lands which have been confiscated, to review these cases in
accordance with State policies; to return lands which have been released to the
original owners; and in the case of lands which cannot be released efforts are
being made to ensure that reasonable compensation and settlement money are
being given. You may all see that compared to previous years effective and
expeditious actions are being taken.
The Union Legal Aid Board has been
established and instructed to provide assistance and support to people in need
of legal services who have been accused, detained, arrested, taken to court,
sentenced, and imprisoned, namely poor and destitute people, children, women,
elderly, people suffering from infectious diseases, migrant workers and
displaced persons.
With regard to human rights,
because of efforts being made to organize training courses and seminars, talks
to create awareness and spread knowledge, translation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights from the Myanmar language to 10 ethnic languages,
you may all see that we have been able to give more protection in cases of
human rights abuses.
Furthermore, we have been able to
preserve and record the traditions and culture of ethnic nationals which are on
the verge of extinction, and to prevent the disappearance of their language and
literature.
My dear esteemed citizens,
The amount of Foreign Direct
Investment that have flowed into the country from 1st April of the 2016-2017 to
31st March of the 2018-2019 fiscal amounted to USD 15.99 billion for a total of
(584) projects from 22 foreign countries. These projects have been reviewed and
approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission during the three year period.
During a similar period, the
Myanmar Investment Commission reviewed and approved (359) projects submitted by
Myanmar nationals amounting to Kyats 7390.34 billion.
During the first six months period
of April to September 2018, the rate of increase of our GDP was 6.5 per cent.
During 2018, our country was able to meet all three indicators to be removed
from the list of LDC (Least Developed Country) countries.
On the other hand we have imposed
tighter administrative controls over departments that have lagged behind in the
reform process. We have been making necessary changes to transform the
judiciary into an impartial body depended upon by the people and well-respected
by them. We built low-cost and affordable housing for the citizens. We have
also been able to build housing for government employees to enable them to live
in dignity after retirement. We raised the salaries and pensions of government
employees to a reasonable amount. We are now giving out pensions using the Wave
money mobile system. We were also able to raise the minimum wage of workers. We
are making efforts to create more job opportunities within the country and at
the same time creating job opportunities in foreign countries. We put in more
efforts to protect our migrant workers working abroad and to ensure that they
receive all their rights and entitlements. I have noted that measures have been
taken for the safety and security of our migrant workers. I have also noted the
implementation and emergence of more youth training schools, domestic science
schools, and modern garment manufacturing schools. I have also noted rural
vocational training schools and projects for training rural people for better
paying jobs and obtaining clean drinking water.
We have been able to do more for
providing electricity all over the country. We are able to build roads and
bridges from east to west and north to south for ease of travel. We were able
to upgrade roads and bridges according to each region. We were able to expand
the territory for promoting tourism. These included granting visas using the
E-visa system and upgrading of airports. We also accomplished projects for
protection of river embankments and repair works for embankments. We are also
implementing projects for the sustainable management of our natural resources
and projects for reforestation. We opened vocational training courses in IDP
camps. We also provided financial support to handicapped people. We were able
to formulate and issue laws, by laws, regulations, procedures and rules for the
efficient and proper use of public funds without wastage in places where they
are needed.
In cases where there had been lack
of responsibility and accountability we have taken effective action. We can
thus say that all these measures have been taken in the interests of the people
and that to a certain extent there has been progress.
We were able to successfully
convene the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong 3rd Session and sign
agreements of fundamental principles for a total of (14) points, namely 4 in
the political sector, 1 in the economic sector, 7 in the social sector and 2 in
the land and natural environment sector.
Mindsets and beliefs that have
become habitual for over half a century, habits that are difficult to get rid
of, and ways of doing things which are now ingrained in the mind, in spite of
obstacles and efforts to cause problems along the path of democratic
transition, within this short period of time we may see visible signs of
progress. These may be seen as the fruits of success born out of a common
belief and commitment that exists between the Government and the people working
together in trust and good spirits.
In spite of all these successes and
progress, at the same time in the international arena we may see that we are
facing and solving efforts to put pressure, hurl criticisms and condemnations,
and efforts to take action against us with regard to the Rakhine state issue.
We are also facing and solving problems such as security breaches in northern
Rakhine, matters relating to repatriation, and internally displaced persons due
to conflicts occurring in certain areas. We are also meeting these challenges
and solving them. I wish to state that, in fact I regard these difficulties as
good opportunities for us to nurture our collective strength.
No matter how many challenges,
difficulties and crises our Union Government may have to face, we firmly
believe that with the understanding, compassion, participation, and cooperation
of the people we will successfully reach our goal of establishing a Democratic
Federal Republic. I wish to remind the people to be careful not to fall into
the trap of religious, racial and political conflicts. We should also be
careful of incidents designed to divert our attention. I also want you all to
be careful not to be affected and swayed by efforts to incite the people by
making reprisals.
My dear esteemed citizens,
Our Union Government will not be
satisfied and complacent about the successes and the fact that we are now on
the path to success. As a government elected by the people, we will always keep
the people’s interest foremost in our minds and continue with our work.
Especially in certain sectors where the people have expressed their
dissatisfaction because their expectations have not been met by the Union Government,
we need to make a careful assessment and continue with our work. In doing this
there is a saying which I have said before, “Let there be change without
affecting stability”. We will continue our concerted and strenuous efforts by
ensuring a well-formulated and effective path, with transparency,
responsibility, and cooperation.
I wish to state with deep
commitment that our Union Government will work strenuously with firm resolve,
strong will, and unflagging zeal, by committing both our body and soul so that
our people would be happy as they see their socio-economic life raised, and see
with their own eyes the emergence of a modern and developed motherland which
can stand tall in the world in dignity and glory.
At this auspicious time of the New
Year, I send these good wishes as I conclude this message:
– May there be peace and
prosperity in our country,
– May all citizens be
blessed with good health and well-being,
– May all your good
wishes be fulfilled,
– May all of you be able
to participate and cooperate in the building of the Democratic Federal Republic
in unity,
– May you all be able to
cast aside the habits, beliefs, and theories of the old system and old era; and
at this time of democratic transition full of opportunity and auspiciousness,
may you all be able to choose together news ideas, new perspectives and new
practices.
I thank you all.
PHOTO: MNA
Ref: The Global New Light of
Myanmar
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