State Counsellor says MPs have responsibility for amending the Constitution

02 February 2019
State Counsellor says MPs have responsibility for amending the Constitution
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi

 Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi said that if one wants to enter the legislative branch or wants to be a member of parliament, then one must learn how to win people’s support.

“If one wants to enter legislative branch or wants to be a member of parliament, one must seek people’s support,” Aung San Suu Kyi said.

The State Counsellor said these words in her address delivered at the 3rd anniversary ceremony of the current second parliament held in the dining hall in parliament in Nay Pyi Taw on 1 February.

“Each and every MP has to learn how to win the popular support to be an MP,” she added.

At this function which was attended by almost all MPs, she said that now MPs had the responsibility to amend the 2008 Constitution.

“Now our MPs have the responsibility for the most crucial work for the country of amending the constitution. I wish everybody sees performing this duty as the nurturing of democracy in the country,” she added.

MP Aung Kyi Nyunt of upper house from NLD party moved an emergency motion on 29 January at Union Parliament urging parliament to form a preparatory committee for amending the constitution.

MPs appointed by the Tatmadaw (military) objected to this motion of forming preparatory committee for amending constitution as the move followed the wrong parliament business procedures.

These Tatmadaw MPs will not participate in deliberations on this motion in parliament but opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) MPs will object to the motion in their deliberations.

Aung San Suu Kyi also said at this parliament anniversary function that the duty of opposition in parliament was not for attacking the ruling party but complement in upgrading qualification each other, and only in this way there will be institution with different opinions which would make progress in it.

“One must dare adhering to his stance despite criticisms and attacks made by whosoever if he is really doing the for the sake of the country in the right direction but if this stance is not beneficial to the country, one must dare change this stance and also he must possess the wisdom of how to change it,” she went on.

This 3rd anniversary ceremony of second parliament which is led by the ruling National League for Democracy party was attended by Aung San Suu Kyi, President, two Vice-Presidents, Union Ministers, Chairman of Commission for Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues Thura Shwe Mann and almost all MPs.