Defence Services C-in-C Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said in his reply to Mizzima that he had never said the constitution would not be amended.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was speaking at the joint operations of Defence Services (Army and Air Force) being conducted at Mong Taing area, Meiktila Township, Mandalay Region on January 31.

“We have agreed to amend it. I have never said the constitution would not be amended. I said it long before the tenure of the first government. But it needs to be amended systematically,” He said.

Recently upper house MP Aung Kyi Nyunt of ruling NLD party from Magway Region No. 4 constituency moved a motion in the Union Parliament (joint sitting of both houses) on January 29 to form Preparatory Committee for Amending Constitution and parliament approved the motion by a division of votes.

During the motion and division of votes, MPs appointed by the military in reserved seats stood up in protest.
Tatmadaw (Defence Services) complained that despite 25% reserved seats in the parliament they were bullied by NLD with their overwhelming majority in parliament.

“I don’t say anything apart from this. We will amend the provisions that need to be amended at the right time,” Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said.

Tatmadaw complained to parliament that moving an emergency motion for amending the constitution by the NLD was done by overreaching parliament procedures and was not an issue for the division of votes.

Tatmadaw MP from lower house Brig. Gen. Maung Maund said, “We don’t say the constitution is non-amendable. It is amendable but the constitution is framed for the integrity of the State so it was made rigid to some extent not to be easily shaken. So we need to make sound procedures and systematic steps to make amendments,” on January 30.

He added that some said the constitution could not be amended without consent given by Tatmadaw but it is the general saying it could be amended as and when necessary for the interest of the nation and for the national interest.