Mon State Chief Minister Resigns

By Nyein Nyein 20 February 2017

The Mon State Chief Minister has resigned and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party has recommended a new appointee to replace him.

U Min Min Oo, Mon State’s chief minister and minister for Municipal Development and Construction in the state, publicly announced on Saturday that he would send his resignation letter to the President on Monday.

He was elected as lawmaker from Bilin Constituency No. 2 for the Mon State parliament in November 2015 and appointed chief minister on April 5, 2016 by President U Htin Kyaw. He is the first government official to resign from his post under the new government.

“He took responsibility and decided to resign, due to his leadership performance in the government, as the internal inquiry report said,” said U Win Htein, the NLD party spokesman. He added that U Min Min Oo is “not a corrupt person.”

U Win Htein told reporters on Monday that the NLD would recommend Dr. Aye Zan, a state lawmaker from Kyaikto as the new appointee for chief minister. It is unclear yet whether Dr. Aye Zan will also be expected to take over the role of state minister for municipal development and construction.

U Min Min Oo was one of the NLD members against whom complaints were lodged last year by state lawmakers regarding reported misconduct, along with his state parliament speakers. The Tenasserim Division Chief Minister Dr. Daw Lei Lei Maw and the division’s parliament speaker also were among those against whom complaints were filed. In late November, the NLD leadership formed an official inquiry to investigate the allegations.

U Min Min Oo will still continue to act as a regional lawmaker even though he has resigned from the chief minister post, U Win Htein explained.

Dr. Aung Naing Oo, the deputy speaker of the Mon State Parliament and member of the All Mon Region Democracy Party, said he also wants the chief minister to perform his original duties as an elected lawmaker, even if he has resigned from the state government leadership role.

“The constituents will expect him to still be a lawmaker, but if he resigns from both positions, it would be such a loss for the constituency. Even if he could not perform well as the chief minister, he still should represent [the people] in the parliament,” the deputy speaker said. He added that it had been within the state parliament’s authority to question the chief minister’s performance and to look out for the public’s best interests.

“Our public’s expectations are high but they gave him some time. Sadly, his implementation was weak and did not bring effective changes, thus leading him to this moment,” he said.

It has not yet been specified when President U Htin Kyaw will accept U Min Min Oo’s resignation and appoint a new chief minister. The Mon State parliament is currently in recess and is scheduled to resume its session in mid-March.

“Whoever the new chief minister is, this person should receive support from all sides to be able to perform well,” Dr. Aung Naing Oo added.