NLD's U Soe Lwin Elected Deputy Mayor of Yangon

By Thazin Hlaing 8 April 2019

YANGON — U Soe Lwin, who won a seat on the executive board of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) as a candidate for the National League for Democracy in last month’s municipal election, was voted deputy mayor of Myanmar’s largest city and commercial capital on Monday.

“[Yangon residents] will see change. We contested the election because we want change. We will try as much as we can within the limited timeframe,” he told reporters.

U Soe Lwin was chosen in a secret ballot by the 11 members of the executive board, including the five incumbents and the six elected on March 31.

The executive board originally consisted of nine members — the mayor, four appointees and four elected representatives — but has been expanded to include two more elected seats.

U Soe Lwin ran on March 31 in Constituency 3 against nine other candidates including well-known figures such as model Htet Htet Htun, businessman U Khin Hlaing and Ko Aung Khant.

The 65-year-old engineering graduate was a building contractor and is currently a commercial rubber grower.

“In my campaign I spoke about what I would do regarding stray dogs and traffic jams if I were elected. But I am deputy mayor now; I am responsible for everything. I will focus my efforts based on the reports of the central executive board members,” U Soe Lwin said.

In addition to the six people elected to the YCDC executive board, the March 31 poll saw 99 municipal officers elected at the township level — three positions each in 33 townships.

Of the 105 seats up for grabs, the NLD secured 89 and independents the remaining 16

“As Yangon residents said, we want hard workers. There are a lot of needs in Yangon, and it would be best if each and every municipal official is dutiful,” said Yangon resident Daw Su Myat.

The new YCDC Law, which took effect in June, allows for the replacement and recall of both appointed and elected members. It also aligns the term of the YCDC with that of the Union president and stipulates that municipal elections must be held within three months of a new Union government taking office.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.