RANGOON — During the opening session of a week-long training for newly elected MPs, Aung San Suu Kyi warned on Monday that the Parliament should not be a perch for lawmakers’ personal interests.
“It’s not a stepping stone for a position. It’s also not a call to fight people with different opinions. It’s a place where we have to try our best to collaborate for the sake of the country and people,” Suu Kyi told participants, made up of civilian and military representatives of the Union Parliament.
“Representatives of the people have to care about the people, not only the party or organization they represent,” the National League for Democracy (NLD) chairwoman said.
During the five-day training course, the themes of democracy, public leadership, ethics and the responsibilities and challenges facing lawmakers are scheduled to be discussed.
Local lawmakers will be joined by parliamentary representatives from Australia, the UK, Pakistan, the Philippines and other countries who will share their expertise.
On Saturday, the BBC reported that Chloe Smith, an MP for Norwich North in the UK, would help to train Suu Kyi’s new MPs over the course of the week.
“I will be discussing how MPs do constituency work and national work and emphasizing accountability and representation,” Smith said.
