U Myo Win, a B.Sc (Chem) graduate, follows the Buddhist teachings and lives in Yangyi Aung Ward, Ye Town, Mon State. He is an ethnic Mon and son of U Poe Hlaing and Daw Nyunt.
In a recent interview with IMNA, he said “The most serious issue at the moment here is drugs and the Ya Ba pills. That’s one topic I am talking. But we have to discuss which issues are the most important when we get to the Hluttaw. After that, we will go step by step. In my opinion, we will report to the Hluttaw about the drug issues that young people are facing.”
IMNA: What kinds of challenges did you have to face during your campaigning?
U Myo Win: There were no huge challenges. In southern Ye Township, during 1990 elections, I gained experience as a representative of Dr. U Kyin Thein. We considered the Mon ethnic villages first. What the Mon villagers told us when we were in those villages was that our party is not Barmar party. We added that we’re also Mon and that everyone could vote for the party that they like. But we mainly urged the voters that if they wanted change for the whole country, they should vote for the strongest nation-wide party.
IMNA: In 2014, you were actively involved in campaigning against the coal-fired power project in near Anndin Village, Ye Township. So, do you have any plans to continue considering the issue and report it to the Hluttaw?
U Myo Win: I will do that for sure. I believe that the coal-fired project is not good for the future of our country. This is because the project can produce thousands of megawatts of electricity and a factory will be also constructed. This can affect considerably the occupations that locals depend on, such as fishing and farming. So, this is a very important issue to be reported to Hluttaw [Parliament]. I have planned to, as I believe this project should not be implemented in the region, stop the project or cancel the project. But since I am not quite sure of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) [between the government and Toyo Thai company], it is still too early to make a decision.
IMNA: NLD and Mon National Party (MNP) won major seats in Ye Township, therefore for the benefit of Ye Township, do you have any plans to work together with MNP not only at the Hluttaw but also outside of Hluttaw?
U Myo Win: I have not reported this to the party yet. What I myself have thought is that I have the desire to work together with other elected representatives, in trust, not only for Mon people but other ethnic people in Ye Township. This can be a meeting between five elected representatives and public. The five representatives are two representatives from the MNP elected and three representatives of the NLD. However, because the power is yet to be transferred to a new government, it is still too early to unveil the plans.
IMNA: Could you state one issue that you have considered to report at first at the Hluttaw?
U Myo Win: The serious issue at the moment here is drugs and the Ya Ba pills. That’s just one topic I am talking about. But we have to discuss which issues are the most important when we get to the Hluttaw. After that, we will go step by step. In my point of view, we will report at the Hluttaw about the drug issue that young people are involved in. Another issue is that in our region there are lots of migrant people, moved in from other regions. In some places migrants are trafficked. We cannot forget this one too. This is a nationwide issue.
IMNA: What do you think if this former government’s term continued?
U Myo Win: That is violating the constitution. It’s specifically written in the 2008 constitution. It is not like that of 1990. It was done by a powerful military in 1990. For this 2015 election, it’s exactly drawn for the formation of a government and power transferring. So, those two elections were in different times. And I think, under the constitution, everything will go accordingly.
IMNA: What message do you want to send out to the public who voted for you?
U Myo Win: Regarding voting matters, I want to say that the public did complete their duties as voters. The remaining duties are the ones that we Hluttaw representatives have to carry out. I accept that the votes cast for me are the same as cast to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I want to say thank you to the public who voted for us.
