Anti-Corruption Commission yet to act against two Arakan ministers accused of graft

18 Dec 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
18 December 2020, Sittwe

Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Commission has yet to take action against two Arakan State ministers despite it having received complaint letters about their alleged abuses of office more than two years ago, according to the complainants.

Arakan State Minister for Finance, Revenue, Planning and Economics U Kyaw Aye Thein and Municipal Affairs Minister U Win Myint have both been accused of malfeasance in the handling of separate tenders for a market and town hall, respectively, in Mrauk-U Township.

“There’s been no response so far to the complaint, though the truth of the case has been revealed. Meanwhile, the companies that complained about corruption are now on the blacklist,” said U Hnin Tun Toe, managing director of Wadi Shwe Myay, one of the blacklisted companies. 

“Moreover, the names of the companies are posted on signage to publicise that these companies are blacklisted.”

The companies were blacklisted on the grounds that they had filed false complaints about the two state ministers, said U Hnin Tun Toe, who stands by the accusations.

“The companies cannot do their business as they are blacklisted. They are facing difficulties in the banking process. It is kind of unfair for them,” he said.

Four lawmakers from Mrauk-U Township and six companies including Wadi Shwe Myay complained to the Anti-Corruption Commission on August 11, 2018, saying U Kyaw Aye Thein had awarded the contract to build a market to a company that did not apply for the tender, ignoring other firms that had submitted bids.

Wadi Shwe Myay also lodged a complaint against U Win Myint the same day, alleging discrimination and improper handling of the tender process for construction of the Mrauk-U town hall. 

A news conference was scheduled for December 19 in Sittwe to discuss the complaints.

Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Law lists as its stated objectives the eradication of bribery, the promotion of clean and good governance, and transparency, in order to encourage economic development via local and foreign investment.

Both state ministers have denied any wrongdoing.