The government will coordinate with the Anti-Corruption Commission on the declaration of personal possessions of government officials with large authority according to the political ranks in 2020, said Zaw Htay, Spokesperson of Myanmar President Office, at a press conference at the Presidential House in Nay Pyi Taw on October 29.

A reporter raised a question about the declaration of belongings of the permanent secretary, director-general and directors.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission is making a push to implement it. The President, the State Counsellor and the commission are working to speed it up. This plan is expected to materialize in 2020. Officials in the lower level of the land record department have authority. Some officials have got a large sum of money. We will control them with the use of policy. The government is working to implement it as quickly as possible,” he added.

“The President and vice-presidents shall have to send the lists of their possessions to the Speaker of Union Parliament under the provision of the Constitution. According to the Union Government Law, union ministers, deputy ministers, region and state chief ministers, ministers, union-level officials are to send the lists of their belongings to the President. The government is discussing with the commission and ministries on how to define the meaning of authorized persons. For instance, director-general, deputy director-general, director and assistant director will include in the lists of authorized persons.  According to the law, the district commissioner has authority in district. Even heads of the department have authority in some regions and states. But the central office has no authority,” he continued.

“The director-general of the President and the State Counsellor Office have no authority. I have to submit reports to the heads and then forward their guidance to the lower level. Director-general and managing directors have authority. We need to discuss it. The commission has proposed to designate the deputy director as authorized persons. But in practice, some officials who are lower than the deputy director have authority,” he said.