The Myanmar junta’s cronies have donated 32.2 billion kyats (US$15.2 million) in flood-relief funds to the regime, which has been struggling to cope with the impacts of Typhoon Yagi-related floods that have killed nearly 400 people so far.
Well-known cronies such as Tun Myint Naing of Asia World Co. Ltd, Zaw Win Shein of A Bank, Maung Weik of Sae Paing Development Ltd, Khin Maung Aye of CB Bank and Zaw Zaw of AYA Bank were among those at a donation ceremony in Naypyitaw on Saturday to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation in affected areas, according to junta media. Photos of the event show businesspersons affiliated with Min Aung Hlaing’s daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon were also present.
Nine states and regions, including the capital Naypyitaw, have been seriously hit by landslides and flash floods caused by the remnants of the typhoon, which struck early this month. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN’s relief agency, said more than 600,000 people have been affected. As of Saturday, 384 people had been killed, the junta announced. The number is expected to rise.
Tun Myint Naing, Zaw Win Shein and Maung Weik donated 1 billion kyats each while Khin Maung Aye donated 2 billion kyats and Zaw Zaw 500 million kyats, according to pictures released by the junta.
Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing said he was deeply grateful to them and urged cronies to cooperate in organizing a census and holding an election.
The cronies showered him with donations worth much more than he had expected, Min Aung Hlaing admitted at the event, saying he had only hoped for 3 or 4 billion kyats.
He said his regime has allocated 30 billion kyats for flood relief and rehabilitation efforts, and the donations from the event would added to that amount.
“In terms of government spending, we can’t spend as we wish. If we do, it will seriously affect the budget,” he added.
The junta is spending most of its money on its military budget for Min Aug Hlaing’s nationwide war against ethnic armed groups and anti-regime resistance groups. It has been widely criticized for its poor flood rescue and relief efforts. The regime said on Saturday that 164 people have been killed in its official seat of Naypyitaw alone—the highest death toll among the affected areas.
Prior to the Saturday donations, the junta newspapers reported that Aung Ko Win, the chairman of Myanmar’s leading KBZ Bank, who has close ties to Min Aung Hlaing, donated 10 billion kyats.
Then, CB Bank announced it would donate 3 billion kyats and The Ayeyarwady Bank said on its Facebook it would donate 1 billion kyats to flood relief.
Cronies flocked to Naypyitaw in June last year to donate more than 16 billion kyats for a giant Buddha statue commissioned by Min Aung Hlaing.
Currently, Myanmar’s southern Shan State and neighboring Karenni State are suffering from ruinous flooding and more devastation is expected.
