Myanmar's lower house adopts anti-corruption proposal

Myanmar's House of Representatives (the Lower House) has adopted an anti-corruption proposal where measures will be introduced in accordance with the directives of the government, parliament sources said on Thursday.

Parliamentarians stressed the need to end corruption which remains the country's biggest impediment to achieving modern development, expressing support for the motion which called on the government to take effective anti-corruption measures, Xinhua news agency quoted the sources as saying.

Myanmar's Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman U Mya Win emphasised the need for correcting the mindset of the people, attributing the cause of corruption to both giver and the taker.

The new Myanmar government has banned its cabinet members, government organisation officials and employees from taking bribery as part of its measures to fight corruption which has long been prevalent in the country.

The measures were seen as one of the new government's pressing undertakings since assumption of office on April 1.

A directive of the President's Office on April 1 restricts the value of gifts or presents received by public servants not over 25,000 kyats ($20) for a person and not over 100,000 kyats ($84) per year.

Moral corruption is widespread in Myanmar which impacts on the country's society, economy and rule of law, the directive said, adding that the measure aims at totally eliminating such customary corruption in a short period of time.

--IANS

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