Mandalay Mayor Ye Lwin has said he will not continue to serve in the next term citing his own personal affairs, not any row with the chief minister, as the reason.  

The major made the comment on his Facebook page on December 26. 

“I would say that the reason I don’t want to continue to serve is my personal affairs. The National league for Democracy government favoured me to run for election. The chief minister and I have no problem at all. We have friendly relations like childhood friends,” the mayor wrote. 

He accepted the post of mayor hours after rejecting it three times. Since he accepted the job, he had decided to serve only for five years (one term), he said. 

“There are several reasons. Age is important. I am now 68 years old. I need to prepare for meritorious deeds. From dawn to dusk throughout my life, I have been occupied with my work by staying away from meditation. Now is the time I must do it. Health is another reason. In 2012, 11 polyps were removed from my large intestine. I had to go back to hospital every six years. But I failed. Such conditions are most likely to cause cancer. After my wife’s death, I have yet to do other things. I need to transfer some foreign assets to my son. These are all my personal affairs,” Ye Lwin wrote on his Facebook page.    

The mayor reported to the Mandalay Region chief minister on November 10 after the election saying that he would not continue to serve, but he would continue to give suggestions if necessary.  

He also said the Mandalay City Development Committee had now changed.  

“The budget situation of the committee is totally different from that of other union ministries. We have no State support. Our organization has to rely on its own income. Previously, it existed after selling its land. During my service, I tried to do things such as conducting a whole city household data survey, gathering correct data to improve taxes, getting 60 percent of market price in rentals although they were received far less than normal in the past and collecting right of way for fiber cables. As we could improve our budget, we are operating with double income now,” he said.  

He went on to say that the committee could not do anything when it comes to e-government service until 2016, but it has now reformed a lot.  

When the mayor took office, he faced protests from some local residents but later he won public support. 

As per the constitution enacted in 2008, the term of mayor is the same as that of President. So, Ye Lwin’s term will end in March next year.