Union Minister for Planning and Finance Soe Win has been concurrently appointed as Union Minister for Industry, according to a statement released by the President Office.
The concurrent appointment came after Union Minister for Industry Khin Maung Cho was allowed to resign.
The order issued by the President Office on July 26 stated that the minister was allowed to resign of his own volition according to Section 235 Sub-section (b) of the Constitution and Section 68 Subsection (a) of the Union Government Law.
A member of parliament who is also a member of the Lower House's Committee for Investment and Industrial Development said the resignation might be related to the ambulance issue and another issue, in which tender was not invited to buy raw materials for BPI.
No (15) Heavy Industries (Thagara) under the Ministry of Industry converted Toyota Hi-ace cars into ambulances. Production started in 2018 and assembling cost of an ambulance was K74 million.
Criticisms emerged that local production cost of ambulances was more expensive than imported ones, calling for investigation.
According to ministry sources, 55 standard type ambulances were manufactured for the Ministry of Health and Sports. New models of ambulances installed with medical equipment and medical grade trimming parts will be manufactured in 2018-2019 fiscal year.
Under the current government led by the National League for Democracy, three union ministers including Khin Maung Cho have resigned.
Dr Le Le Maw, who served as Taninthayi Region Chief Minister, is also in detention facing a court trial after alleged corruption.
