A date for a nationwide referendum to effect constitutional changes is yet to be finalised, U Saw Hla Tun, secretary of the Lower House Bill Committee, told Mizzima on April 22. 
Last month, President U Thein Sein announced that a referendum will be held to bring about changes in the 2008 Constitution. 
Opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said amendments to the Constitution are crucial to allow all parties a ‘level playing field’ without which she would be less than willing to contest. 
Suu Kyi is particularly looking for scrapping Article 59F that denies anyone with foreigners as close relatives (like her) a chance to contest for the presidency. 
She also wants an end to provisions that gives the military 25 percent of the seats in parliament and also  Article 436 that prescribes that any constitutional amendment needs the approval of more than 75 percent or three-fourths of all members of parliament. 
With a quarter of MPs appointed by the military, this currently gives the military veto power over changing the constitution. 
“The Union Parliament has yet to fix a time for the nationwide referendum. The month of May is just the time the parliamentary speaker said (is in consideration),” explained U Saw Hla Tun. 
But if that was the case, it was high time for a definite schedule on the referendum to be announced, because there could be scores of suggested amendments on the table. 
Some MPs say there has been no clear decision to amend the military-written 2008 Constitution. 
Uncertainty remains over the referendum – and whether it will take up key amendments sought by the National League for Democracy and ethnic minority groups before national elections scheduled for November 2015. 
Lower House MP U Sein Win of Maubin Township said: “The Union Parliament has yet to fix a time for the nationwide referendum. The affair is still being discussed. The assumption that it will be held in May is just based on the (parliamentary) speaker’s personal opinion.” 
Parliament Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann said in a press conference held in late 2014 said that the nationwide referendum on changes to constitution would be held in May. 
According to the national referendum law, parliament must fix a time for the referendum with one month’s notice and the list of eligible voters 15 days in advance.  
U Hla Maung Cho, a member of Information Committee of the Union Election Commission, told Mizzima on Wednesday, “Parliament has not informed us when the nationwide referendum will be held.”