No enquiry into Mon State chief minister’s election expense controversy: NLD CEC member

Published 23 December 2020

Nyan Lin Tun

The National League for Democracy has not launched any investigation into the case in which Mon State Chief Minister Dr Aye Zan’s election expenses included cash contributions from companies and businesspeople as there is no complaint yet pointing out it violated the law, said NLD’s Central Executive Committee member Dr Myo Nyunt.

“We have to launch an enquiry if any complaint comes saying that such cash donations breach the law. We have yet to receive any complaint,” Dr Myo Nyunt told The Daily Eleven.

Dr Aye Zan ran for the 2020 general election in the state parliament constituency (2) of Kyaikhto Township.

The funds raised for election campaign included Ks2.5 million by the chief minister himself, over Ks700,000 by the central National League for Democracy for aid and online expenses, Ks2 million plus Ks750,000 for campaign shirts depicting the candidate’s portrait by First Yo Yo Lay Co Ltd owner Nay Htet Thein Naing and wife in Kyaikto, Ks1 million by businessman Ye Tun and wife in Kyaikto, Ks500,000 by PT Power fuel station owner Myint Tin in Mawlamyine, Ks250,000 by Kayikhtiyo Market Committee and Ks75,000 by Yadana Hein Gems Exploration (Motpalin) totalling over Ks8.2 million. Of the total amount, over Ks7.6 million was spent for his election campaign, according to Thaton District Election Sub-commission.

“After paying taxes from their profits to the State, companies can contribute a certain percentage to social and cultural affairs. If there is no certain privilege granted for their contributions, we cannot say it violates the law,” Dr Myo Nyunt said.

He added that the NLD at both state and central levels did not raise the issue with the inclusion of company contributions in Dr Aye Zan’s election expenses.

Just recently, Htantalan Township NLD chairman Si Zar Kyone put up his resignation letter after a letter signed by himself went viral online on the night of November 26. The letter read that six companies that competed in the tenders opened by the Chin State Education Department are NLD supporters for its election victory in the 2020 general election.