Mon State Parliament [Hluttaw] members criticized an initiative honouring residents of Mon State, some of whom, have broken the law. They have called for a review of the initiative.
On March 9, the Mon State Government released a letter numbered 5/2020, indicating that certain residents of the State would be given honorary certificates and awards for their contributions in various fields.
The initiative however caused a reaction from some parliamentarians. The Hluttaw representative from Paung Township Constituency (2) U Zaw Zaw Htoo pointed out the process was offering awards to individuals who had abused the law.
He noted while, “I am proud of having two honorees in our township. There should be consultation with local representatives about what kind of person should be given these awards. The person nominated for an honorary certificate for the Outstanding Business Award has been accused of counterfeiting the logo of Grand Royal Whiskey in 2005 and has been imprisoned.”
Dr. Anung Naing Oo, Deputy Speaker of the Mon State Hluttaw, echoed the need for a more locally informed process. He said, “the representative of each township knows almost everything about the socioeconomic status of the people [who deserve the ward], but we have seen some honorees that do not deserve it.”
Each award was initially screened by a selection and review committee, and final decisions were made by the Cabinet.
The awards initiative also involved recognition of some government officials. This also raised concerns. The Chair of the Financial Planning and Economic Affairs Review Committee, U Aung Kyaw Thu asked, if it was appropriate for awards to go to departments that receive complaints from the public about their management of public finances?
“There have been complaints about the state municipality [handling of a number of topics] like roundabouts. Township Hluttaw representatives always point out their concerns with budget and operational issues of Departments of City Development Committee and Road Transport Administration and [yet] we would give awards?” he asked.
Hluttaw members discussed possible remedies to the challenges raised by the awards initiative, like self-reporting of wrongdoing by nominees. The Mon State Government Office Director, U Myint Than Win, responded to this suggestion, by saying “that if the Mon State honorees are able to report their penalties by themselves, there will no longer be awards.”
U Myint Than Win, defended the awards for government departments by saying, “we have chosen the best staff who have outstanding performance in economic or social related-sectors.”
Following the debate in the Mon State Hluttaw, parliamentarians decided to send a letter to the government requesting a review of the awards process.
