President: Present reforms need to be conducted in a timely manner, without any anxiety

President U Win Myint met with Yangon Region administrative, legislative and judicial officials in the Yangon Region government office meeting hall yesterday morning.

Present at the meeting were Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe, Union Minister for Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Region Ministers, Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun and Region Hluttaw representatives, Yangon Region Chief Justice U Win Swe and judges, Chief of Myanmar Police Force Police Lt-Gen Aung Win Oo, along with district and township level departmental officials.

In his speech, the President said the meeting was held to raise the momentum of reforms carried out by the government. Reforms need to follow global trends.

If reforms are not conducted, the country’s development, wealth, living standard, education, health, economic and social sectors will lag behind. Reforms need to be conducted in a timely manner. The government and all who are responsible are determined to establish a democratic federal union.

Only through the establishment of a democratic federal union can there be peace in the country, can the states and regions develop proportionately and in tandem, can the union develop and exist forever. That is why the aim is to establish a democratic federal union. It can be seen that the people in the country want democracy. In addition to freedom, justice and equality in a democratic system, there are both mental and physical security of the people as well as development, stability and peace of the country, and thus all are striving toward implementing it.

Time factor is not to be ignored in establishing a democratic federal union. Time is very important. Time and tide wait for no man. Thus, present reforms need to be conducted in a timely manner.

There shouldn’t be any anxiety in conducting reform works. Now is a good chance to do this. It is also a rare chance and it should be done effectively.

The administrative sector needs to support rule of law and should be according to the laws. It should serve the people, safeguard and protect the people and protect human rights.

When the legislative sector prepares a bill, it must benefit the people and the country. It must be in accord with the country’s situation. It must be up to the human rights and democratic norms. Hluttaw representatives must study and understand the legislative duties of the Union and the state/region clearly.

The judicial sector needs to be free from bias and corruption. All levels of the judiciary need to be managed properly. Rule of law is to be conducted according to the laws. All are equal in the face of the law whether they are rich, poor, with or without power or authority. Rule of law is important in a democratic system of government and if democracy is desired, there should be mutual respect for one another, one group to another and all need to abide by and respect the law.

The reason for coming to the meeting is to know the true situation of the legislative, administrative and judicial sectors in states and regions and to straighten things up, so all need to submit the true situation clearly, said the President.

Next, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein explained about the status of the government’s oversight of regional development work and future work.

Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun then explained about legislative work being conducted, and to be conducted followed by Yangon Region Chief Justice U Win Swe explaining about past, present and future judicial work.

Afterwards, President U Win Myint commented on the strengths and weaknesses of the explanations and reports on the administrative, legislative and judicial sectors. To become a good administrative system, duties and responsibilities need to be taken, transparency, foresight and cooperation required. The government is implementing a good administrative system through setting up policies.

But these policies could not be implemented by one sector of the government only. Officials from the legislative, administrative and judicial sectors, departmental officials and the people need to cooperate. Only them, can there be a movement that we all want and reach the goal that we all desire.

Public servants are enjoying the salaries and wages from the Union budget and along with these benefits, public servants need to take responsibility for their work. Rights are to be obtained, while duties are to be performed responsibly. Public servants enjoying salaries and wages from public funds need to perform their duties and responsibilities according to the law, and they are to serve and provide service to the people.

It is very important not to become a machinery that oppresses the people. The country will be good only when the public servants are good. Only when all public servants are good can they all participate together and reforms works will be successful. If reforms are not conducted in a timely manner, our country will lag behind.

With regards to corruption, the anti-corruption commission is taking effective action according to the laws. Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs), working to control corruption, are planned to be formed at the ministry level. All need to participate to become corruption free. Actions in accordance with the laws against corruption are taken, regardless of position or status. Work is ongoing, in a bid to become a corruption-free society.

All that can be done is being done to alleviate difficulties the public servants are facing. Livelihood problems and difficulties of the public servants are well understood. But these difficulties and problems shouldn’t be pushed to the front, and illegal rights should not be considered as opportunities. Public servants are urged to work toward easing the suffering and hardships of the people, aiming for their long-term future benefit, instead of only trying to ease one’s own temporary sufferings and inconveniences.

After the meeting, President U Win Myint cordially greeted those attending the meeting.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar