Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers speech at International Anti-corruption Day ceremony
NAY PYI TAW December 9
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers speech at International Anti-corruption Day ceremony Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the ceremony to mark the International Anti-corruption Day, held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-1 in Nay Pyi Taw this morning.
Also present at the ceremony were Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Manh Nyein Maung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Lt-Gen Soe Htut and Lt-Gen Yar Pyae of the SAC, union-level officials, union ministers, the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers, the commander of the Nay Pyi Taw Command, deputy ministers, officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission and guests while chief ministers from states and regions participated in the ceremony via video conferencing.
First, the Senior General delivered a speech, saying Myanmar signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption in 2005 and became the 165th member of it in 2012. Myanmar has been cooperating with signatories to the convention by abiding by its terms and provisions.
Every year, the 9th of December has been designated as the International Anti-corruption Day and signatories to the convention organize the International Anti-corruption Day ceremonies on the day around the world every year. Myanmar has been organizing the ceremony every year since 2017.
The State Administration Council has been exerting efforts for stability of the country, unity of all national races, development of social economic life and building a union based on democracy and federal system in accordance with the political, economic and social objectives adopted during the term in which the SAC has assumed the State power in accordance with the 2008 constitution. In doing so, it is of utmost importance to reduce corruption that can undermine the development and stability of the country in all aspects. As corruption can damage the morale and morals of the people and is dangerous for the country, the Anti-corruption law was enacted on 7 August, 2013 and effective prevention and action has been taken against it. Toprevent and take action against corruption, which takes various forms from time to time, the law has been amended four times. Everyone is urged to participate in anti-corruption efforts as a national duty.
I would like to inform you that the government is taking all round measures to build clean government and good governance, to improve the image and responsibility in public administration and not to affect the rights and interests of the society and citizens. Corruption means not just bribery but also refers to practices such as blackmailing, cheating, abusing state-owned properties, using public properties as private ones, campaigning under ill-influence, nepotism and favoritism.
As an act of damaging the funds, properties and assets of the country by violating the existing laws, disciplines and rules and regulations amounts to corruption, it is necessary to take cautious measures in accordance with them. If existing laws, disciplines and rules and regulations are found to be unclear and ambiguous, one must seek the recommendations from union-level bodies and carry out tasks in accordance with recommendations under the guidance of superior organizations.
Exposing and taking action against corruption alone is not sufficient and awareness-raising and prevention campaigns against corruption, which are fundamental to create a culture of zero-tolerance to and elimination of corruption, must be launched seriously at the same time.
Essence of the anti-graft campaign is to safeguard the interests of the public and establish a graft-free society. Public servants and civil servants are those who build a trust between the Government and the people through working as a bridge. In shaping good governance, anti-graft measures are important and what civil servants, public servants and civil servants are off the course of disciplinary regulation, righteousness and code of conduct is graft. So, if civil servants comply with the set rules, regulations, protocol, code of conduct, they will win the trust of the people, which leads to good governance and will be helpful to the development of the nation. To ensure that civil servants are righteous and upright and work together in anti-graft measures, complying with the issued code of conduct is important as well as courses related to code of conduct.
The more the graft is, the more the poverty is. The more poverty there is, the more the graft is. Thus, the Anti-Corruption Strategic Plan (2022-2025) was laid down and being implemented. Such a strategic action plan is drawn to harmoniously combine and take three antigraft measures – prevention, education, and action. The national objective of the State Administration Council is to ensure prosperity of the nation and food security and to promote domestic economy and to ensure improvement of socio-economic lives of the people as well. That means domestic commodity production is encouraged. If the domestic economy is developed, the poverty will be lower.
Therefore, we must make efforts to ensure that all relevant tasks will be successful. Corruption prevention units (CPUs) are extended in ministries, organizations, and region and state governments in order to ensure cooperative efforts for improvement of righteousness and uprightness in public organizations in accordance with the anti-corruption strategic plan. Therefore, it is necessary to take supervisory tasks and adhering measures from the bottom level. Besides, Public Feedback Programme – PFP is being implemented to effectively prevent minor graft cases. Mainly, it is to develop a corruption- zero community from being lower in corruption by carefully staying away from graft yourself.
To propagate corruption free fundamental sentiment and culture in basic education schools, edutainment programmes are being implemented at the schools. As such measures are being taken step by step to have good citizens who are upright and righteous in the future, it is necessary to give special consideration on achieving success of such edutainment measures.
The State Administration Council is focusing on ensuring strengthening policy, legal framework and protocol in orderto ensure reduction and elimination of graft cases. As graft cases are emerging in many forms, it is to takemeasures to eliminate them not only legally but morally. As this is related to not only civil servants and public servants but the people, all are urged to work together in anti-graft measures.
Afterwards, Chief Justice U Tun Tun Oo briefed on measures being taken for ensuringa judiciary that is unbiased, justice and accountable with no corruption and U Than Swe, chairman of the commission, on the measures being taken by the commission and those to be done.
Later, the Senior General and the attendees watched a documentary video marking the International Anti-Corruption Day and viewed photos showing anti-corruption activities.
