NAYPYI TAW, September 17
As acitizen, every Tatmadaw member has the duty to serve for the country’s betterment and its interest apart from the national defence and security duties. The “strength” of the nation canbe generated through the collective participation of every person of every locality, faith and organization under the single goal, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in presenting rice, cooking oil, salt and gram and cash contributions donated by familes of Tatmadaw (Army,Navy and Air) to Muslim Free Hospital & Medical Relief Society, Little Sisters of The Poor Home for The Aged, Sri Sri Durga Bari Temple and Tomb of Bahadur Shah Zafar in Kyauktada and Mingala Taungnyunt townships,Yangon Region today.
Present on the occasion were the Senior General and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief(Navy)Admiral Tin Aung San,Commander-in-Chief (Air)General Maung Maung Kyaw and wife, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command and wife, township level departmental officials, wellwishers and invited guests.
In explaining the purpose of the donations, the Senior General said as “health is wealth” everyone wants a healthy life. Everyone’s hope is to enjoy health and longevity. Only health enables man to work, pursue education and improve his socio-economy. If a person becomes unhealthy,he will have cost for treatment.The free hospital and the home for the aged are doing social activities such as providing medical treatment for the poor and care for the elders regardless ofrace and religion.Hence, Tatmadaw families and well-wishers made collective donation with full generosity.
Tatmadaw is a part of the State. As Tatmadaw members are the children of the people,they are also the part of the people. So, Tatmadaw emphasizes on healthcare under takings which are the basic need ofthe people, and it is making donations from its welfare funds and contributions of well-wishers.As the donations are made through the collective contributions by families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and well-wishers, every difficulty can be overcome through the collective efforts and unity under the single goal. It is the “strength” of the nation.
The Union recognizes special position of Buddhism as the faith professed by the great majority ofthe citizens of the Union. Likewise, it also recognizes other religions and makes no religious discriminations.As the citizens living in the country are the people residing on the same land, drinking the water from the same source and experiencing the same atmosphere,they all should nurture the spirit to work for national development through unity and united goal. They must be like a bundle of bamboos, so that they do not need to worry about any threats. The existence of multiple national races and multi faiths is the nation’s objective condition and all must recognize it and should not conceive any wish to make discrimination. All need the required knowledge and unity and must be dutiful in serving the country.
All individuals, families and organizations must avoid any act harming the image of the country. They must see anything fair and square,not in view of everything they want. Every citizen must love their own country and do things with care and consideration.
Families of Tatmadaw(Army, Navy and Air) and public well-wishers have been making donations to monasteries,nunneries, homes for the aged and religious organizations since ancient times.Likewise, plans were made last year to make donations to Christian and Islamic religious and social organizations. This year, donations were made in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Merit means doing a goodwill act based on sharing what one has, he said. The Senior General then prayed for being able to do more noble and meritorious deeds regardless of race or religion.
At the Muslim Free Hospital,the Senior General presented rice, cooking oil, salt, peas and cash assistance donated by families of Tatmadaw(Anny, Navy and Air) to Medical Superintendent Dr S Madar. The Quartermaster General and public wellwishers presented food and cash donations to officials concerned.
At the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged, the Senior General presented cash donations to Sister Mary Josephine. The Commander-in-Chief(Navy), theCommander-in-Chief(Air) and public well-wishers presented rice,cooking oil, salt, peas and cash donation to the sister.
At Sri Sri Durga Bari Temple,the Senior General presented cash donations to U Aung Thwin, vice chairman of All Myanmar Hindu Central Council. The Adjutant General and public well-wishers presented donations to officials from the temple.
At the Tomb of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Senior General presented donations to Haji U Aye Lwin from the tomb supervisory committee, who returned a gift. The Adjutant General and public well-wishers presented donations to officials from the committee.
After the donation ceremonies,the Senior General and party asked after the health of patients at the Muslim Free Hospital and elders from the the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged and cordially greeted them.They also viewed round in Sri Sri Durga Bari Temple and the Tomb of Bahadur Shah Zafar. Officials from the religious organizations concerned spoke words of thanks and said prayers. The Senior General and party cordially greeted the religious leaders and those present and posed for documentary group photos.
Today’s donations were Ks-12 million, 146 bags of rice, 15 bags of gram, two bags and 175 viss of salt, 49 viss and 90 tickels of cooking oil, 3,780 packets of Nan Myaing Coffee and Shwe Phi Oo Tea donated by families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air), and Ks-12 million by public well-wishers.
