Sunday, June 15, 2025
12:53 AM
Doha,Qatar
Myanmar's new president Htin Kyaw (L) and National League for Democracy party leader Aung San Suu Ky

Suu Kyi's party to propose giving her special 'advisor' role

Aung San Suu Kyi's party will Thursday submit a proposal to create a new ‘state advisor’ role for her, MPs said, giving her power to liaise between the president and parliament.

The Southeast Asian nation is witnessing the dawn of a new era following nearly half a century of military repression, with surging hopes that Suu Kyi's newly sworn-in administration can accelerate the country's economic and political rejuvenation.

But Suu Kyi cannot become president because of rules in a junta-era constitution, despite the huge election victory she delivered for her National League for Democracy in November's historic elections.

A draft of the proposal, which mentions Suu Kyi by name, would give her ‘responsibility to the parliament regarding the performance of advice’, power to conduct any meetings deemed necessary and a budget.

The post, which could mirror the role of a prime minister in other political systems, would last for the same five-year term as the president and give Suu Kyi access to the legislature, after she was forced to relinquish her parliamentary seat to join the cabinet.

It will be submitted to the upper house of parliament on Thursday, according to several MPs, including Pu Gin Kam Lian from the Zomi Congress for Democracy Party, from western Chin state.

‘It will be discussed and approved coming days,’ he told AFP.

The Nobel laureate has pledged to rule above President Htin Kyaw, a close confidante who was sworn in on Wednesday, and she has also taken on four cabinet posts in the foreign affairs, education, energy and president's office ministries.

Suu Kyi, the daughter of the country's independence hero, won a seat in 2012 by-elections and embraced the country's fledgling quasi-civilian parliament as it developed into a vibrant power centre in recent years. 

Last November's polls, the freest in decades, saw her party rake in 80 percent of available parliament seats, giving them a massive public mandate.

The new lawmakers hail from a variety of backgrounds, from doctors to poets, but many have little experience of government and look to Suu Kyi for guidance.

They are tasked with reviving a battered economy and a society straitjacketed by the army, which ruled with an iron fist between 1962 and the start of reforms in 2011 under the administration of retired general Thein Sein, who stepped aside on Wednesday.

The army is also still firmly on the political scene. The military holds a quarter of all parliamentary seats and three key posts in the cabinet.

 

 

Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details