ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL

Members of Union and Region/State governments will not enjoy salaries in full in consideration of objective and financial conditions of the nation and in public interests
President U Thein Sein speaks to members of Union Government, heads of Union level organizations

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March

President U Thein Sein delivered a speech at a ceremony to take heed of presidential address and make affirmation today.

The following is the translation of speech delivered by President U Thein Sein.

I extend my warmest greetings to members of the Union Government and heads of Union level organizations here and wish you good health and happiness, being able to serve the better interests of the nation and the people.

The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session, which commenced on 31 January 2011, concluded yesterday. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has chosen the organizations and persons who will take charge of Union level executive, judicial and legislative sectors. Likewise, respective State and Region Hluttaws have elected the persons to take charge of those sectors in their own regions.

So, we will have to build a modern, developed democratic nation, the final step of the seven-step Road Map, with the strength of State leaders elected by the Hluttaw and the government and authorities formed by the Hluttaw.

Now I would like to clarify the stances we should have and the policies we must follow in implementing the final step of the Road Map. We are all responsible for executive, judicial and legislative affairs so as to shape a modern, developed democratic nation as well as for accomplishing the final step of the Road Map.

This is why I want to say that the points and work programmes to be explained today are very important for the future of the nation.

Heads of Union level organizations, ministers and deputy ministers from the Union Government The most important task of the new administration is to work together to create good governance and clean government. To do so, the work programmes of the Union Government and State and Region governments must be transparent, accountable and consistent with the constitution and the existing laws. It is necessary to respect the people’s wishes and to ensure all inclusiveness.

The tasks of government must be expeditious and effective.

The second task of the government is to do democratic practices. Today, our country has a constitution that is a foundation to shape a modern, developed democratic nation. The legislative, executive and judicial pillars that emerged from the constitution have come to life. The people have enjoyed the right to elect Hluttaw representatives as they wish as well as the right to be elected. All these are sound foundations for emergence of a discipline-flourishing democracy.

In order to practise democracy effectively and correctly through those foundations, it is needed to promote democratic practices in the government, in the departmental organizations and among the people. In this regard, the people on their part must do such democratic practices as freedom and rights in accord with the law, culture, traditions and customs of Myanmar.

For administrative bodies in carrying out administrative tasks or dealing with the laws and procedures, they must be careful not to obstruct the fundamental rights of a citizen.

They must lead the citizens to enjoy their fundamental rights in a correct way without harming the interests of the Union and the human society.

Moreover, in carrying out such tasks it is necessary to consider the stances and responses of the people. If the people and administrative bodies alike can distinguish between freedom and sense of duty and between freedom and discipline, Myanmar will surely be a society with flourishing democratic practices.

Heads of Union level organizations, ministers and deputy ministers from the Union Government, Another important task is to ensure the rule of law, which is essential for building up a modern and developed democratic nation.

It is the duty of not only judicial bodies but also legislative bodies to ensure the rule of law.

It is required of judicial bodies to carry out judicial tasks in accord with the provisions of the constitution such as openly handling of judicial affairs and the right to pass judgment in the presence of the public except legislative constraints and the rights to defence and appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases.

According to the constitution, the Supreme Court of the Union has been entrusted with power to issue writs, and the first ever constitutional tribunal of the Union in the history of Myanmar has been formed. These organizations are not only to maintain and safeguard the judicial pillar, one of the nation’s main pillars, but also to define constitutional provisions and scrutinize the functions of legislative and administrative bodies whether or not they are in conformity with the constitution.

For administrative bodies, they need to perform their administrative duties without prejudice and they themselves must be ideals of respecting the laws and rules. With the correct judicial pillar alongside legislative bodies acting in accord with the law, our nation will be able to practise a discipline-flourishing democratic system with the rule of law.

Another important task like the rule of law is to ensure speediness and effectiveness in governmental transactions. The government has yet to materialize the objectives of the five-year project.

The SPDC has laid sound foundations for national development. So, we have to make good use of the foundations for development in the economic, education, health, transport, communication and construction sectors.

In this regard, we must keep off ignoring the procedures and rules and regulations and disregarding extravagance and unnecessary waste.

We are under a duty to satisfy the wishes and requirements of the people because the government has to be responsible to the public through Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

We also have to respect the role of the media, the fourth estate.

We are required to inform the people about what they should know and appreciate positive suggestions of the media.

Another task to make the government’s functions more effective is cooperation among ministries. According to the constitution, the nation sees not only the Union government but also Region and State governments.

Therefore, cooperation between the governments is of great importance.

Nation-build-ing tasks are so demanding that an individual or ministry alone cannot realize them, and nor can the Union, a region or a state alone. So, cooperation between members of the government is a must to expedite administrative mechanism.

Heads of Union level organizations, members of Union government, ministers and deputy ministers, Now, neighbouring countries and the international community are watching with great interest the government formed in accordance with the constitution, how it will discharge its duties, and relations and cooperation between the Union government and Region/State
governments.

Similarly, the people are watching the formation, the way the government carries out its duties, in the hope of their better future. Myanmar’s democratic practice is in its infancy, so it has to take a long time to be mature.

Governing bodies at all levels play a crucial role in the nation’s administrative mechanism.

If the administrative mechanism guarantees the people’s life security and civil servants treat the people fairly, and the people lead a peaceful life under the protection of the law, the constitution that shapes the administrative mechanism will be reliable. And the people put reliance and trust in the legislative and executive bodies.

Therefore, the first fiveyear term is the most important in building a modern, developed democratic nation. If we take giant steps, the nation will have a prosperous future.

To achieve this goal, the government must be a clean one with good governance.

In addition, the government must have good management and administrative skills and show benevolent attitude towards the people. And it must safeguard and serve the public interests.

To be a clean government, we must abstain from corruption and bribery, which tarnishes the image of the nation and the people.

Therefore, we have to not only refrain from it but also ensure that the organizations stay away from it.

What is very important is that we must not abuse the mandate in the interest of our friends and relatives.

Only then, can our government be recognized as a clean government.

As you know, our country has not been a rich one yet. The nation has developed a lot in the time of the Tatmadaw government, but there are still many people, whose life is a battle against poverty, whose life is a hand-tomouth existence, and many unemployed people.

Therefore, the governing organs at all levels should not seize all the rights and privileges.

According to Ordinances 2, 3, 4 and 5 issued on 10 January 2011 under Article 443 of the constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by the SPDC, officials at the Union and Region/State levels, Self-Administered Zone or Division chairmen and executives, and the chairman and members of Nay Pyi Taw Council will not enjoy salaries in full, and we will continue to enjoy the same rates, as that we were paid while we were serving at the SPDC central level bodies in consideration of the objective and financial conditions of the nation and the public interests.

In conclusion, in response to the proposals by some hluttaw representatives, the rates of service personnel’s salaries and pensions will be increased in proportion to revolving funds of the government, inflation rate, consumer price indexes and GDP when it is opportune.

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