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Roundup: Myanmar steps up fight against bribery, corruption

Xinhua, November 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Myanmar new government has stepped up fight against bribery and corruption, accepting the public complaints on government malpractice to promote the healthy economic development of the country.

The Ministry of the State Counselor's Office announced on Wednesday the acceptance of people's complaint on cases of bribery and corruption.

Every individual has the right to make complaint addressed to the deputy minister of the ministry as required or by registered letter or email, the announcement said.

"In making complaints, cases of bribery and corruption committed by responsible officials of government services which affect the public shall be prioritized," the ministry's announcement said.

However, the announcement urged not to complain of cases sued in courts, cases under trial and against those who have already been convicted by courts of justice.

The ministry assured of protecting the safety of the complainants without leaking their complaints.

Myanmar new government formed the Ministry of the State Counselor's Office on April 6, aimed at building up a democratic federal union of peace, development and modernization and making efforts for the emergence of multi-democracy and exercising market economic system.

In August, Myanmar's House of Representatives (Lower House) adopted a proposal calling for fighting corruption, introducing anti-corruption measures in accordance with the directives of the government.

Parliamentarians stressed the need to end corruption which remains the country's biggest impediment to achieving modern development, expressing support for the motion calling on the government to take effective anti-corruption measures.

The parliamentarians said that one of the reasons for corruption is the low pay of government employees.

Myanmar's Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman U Mya Win emphasized the need for correcting the mindset of the people, attributing the cause of corruption to both giver and the taker.

He called for revising some of the provisions of the anti-corruption law, expressing the belief that a comprehensive approach to the fight against corruption will help the country make remarkable progress in its corruption battle within prescribed time.

Myanmar new government has banned its cabinet members, government organization officials and employees from taking bribery as part of its measures to fight corruption which has long been prevalent in the country.

The measures are seen as one of the new government's pressing undertakings since the assumption of office on April 1.

A directive of the President's Office on April 1 restricts the value of gifts or presents received by public servants exceptionally not out of their post held to not over 25,000 kyats (20 U.S. dollars) for a person and not over not over 100,000 kyats (83 U.S. dollars) per year.

Moral corruption is widespread in Myanmar which impacts on the country's society, economy and rule of law, the directive warned, adding that the measure aims at totally eliminating such customary corruption in a short period. Endit