1. I extend my greetings to the Chairman of the State Administration Council of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Prime Minister, Chief of the Supreme Court, Union-level Officials, Region and State Chief Ministers, and specially invited guests attending this ceremony.

2. I am U Tin Oo, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission. I am here to present our progress in implementing our Anti-Corruption activities. The Anti-Corruption Commission developed the Anti-Corruption Strategy Plan (2018-2021) to combat corruption through awareness, prevention, and investigation. Currently, we are formulating the Anti-Corruption Strategy Plan (2022-2025) to enhance our anti-corruption efforts further.

3. In accordance with Chapter II, Article 5 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Myanmar enacted the Anti-Corruption Law on August 7, 2013, and established the Commission on February 25, 2014, following Section 7, 9, and 10 of the Anti-Corruption Law.

4. Myanmar, as a member state of UNCAC, complies with the Convention’s provisions and participates in the second cycle of the review process every five years.

5. Based on UNCAC review process recommendations, Myanmar aligned its Anti-Corruption Law with international standards by enacting the 4th amendment on June 21, 2018. 

Chairman of the State Administration Council of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Prime Minister, and all distinguished guests who attended the ceremony

6. The Commission enacted new Anti-Corruption rules to effectively implement the provisions of the 4th amendment to the Anti-Corruption Law and address practical implementation difficulties and weaknesses.

7. Additionally, the Commission plans to strengthen the whistleblowing mechanism and enact a whistleblower protection law under Article 17 (j) of the Anti-Corruption Law.

8. It is crucial to address corruption-related losses to the state budget and assets through the Anti-Corruption Law while concurrently conducting effective corruption prevention activities to curb corruption nationwide.

9. To achieve these goals, the Commission established commission office and three departments this year, enhancing its capacity for international relations and investigations, in addition to its original responsibilities.

10. The Commission’s role is to implement the provisions of UNCAC, taking unbiased action against abuses of power, non-compliance with laws and regulations, and losses to the state budget, property, and assets, as outlined in Article 3 (a)(1) and (2) of the Anti-Corruption Law.

Chairman of State Administration Council, Prime Minister and all distinguished guests who attended the ceremony

11. Anti-Corruption is one of the most significant obstacles to national development. In the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is emphasized as Goal 16. The Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) 2018-2030, under Pillar 1, includes strategies 1-4 aimed at promoting peace, stability, good governance, organizational performance, and effective decision-making at all levels. The ultimate objective is to achieve a corruption-free environment with highly capable civil servants and civil society organizations that follow good practices and work for the country’s benefit.

12. To more effectively implement corruption prevention, Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs) have been organized in 37 ministries/organizations with the approval of State Administration Council Office. 

13. The tasks of the Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs) can only be successfully implemented under the leadership and management authority of the Union Minister. These units will effectively reduce corruption within their respective departments by fulfilling their responsibilities. Employees engaging in corrupt practices will also be prosecuted, ultimately leading to a reduction in damage and the restoration of credibility. Consequently, employees will be protected from the risks of corruption and unethical behavior, while elevating the dignity of the country and its people. Furthermore, this will enhance public trust and result in a clean government.

Chairman of State Administration Council, Prime Minister and all distinguished guests who attended the ceremony

14. Furthermore, the Commission has employed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate the implementation of the CPUs. It solicits feedback from the public via SMS through the Public Feedback Program (PFP), which was launched on 1 November, employing the shortcode 1111. As of the present day, this PFP initiative has been implemented across (13) ministries/organizations, including the Commission. The Anti-Corruption Commission shares updates on these PFP activities under the theme “Let’s Work Together to Remove Corruption and Promote Prosperity” on its Facebook Page, website, and in newspapers published by the Ministry of Information. These updates are published weekly to keep the public well-informed.

15. Additionally, the Commission would like to inform that it is offering the required technical assistance for the implementation of corruption risk assessment (CRA), which is one of the missions assigned to the CPU teams within Union Ministries/Organizations.

16. The Commission has undertaken the responsibility of combating corruption as a national duty. Its objectives include promoting clean government, enhancing good governance, increasing accountability and transparency, safeguarding the state budget from losses, protecting the interests of citizens, taking effective action against those involved in corruption, and fostering a corruption-free society. The government has already called upon the entire public, including government departments, organizations, social groups, and the media, to collaborate and cooperate in this endeavor.

17. This year, we are observing that the motto of International Anti-Corruption Day is “Your Right, Your Role: Say No to Corruption.” When translated into Burmese, it means “Let’s take responsibility in your role to reject corruption.” The State Administration Council has formulated plans to mitigate the socio-economic losses and damages caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. These plans are currently being implemented despite the challenges we face. In order to combat corruption and establish a clean government, it is imperative to promote integrity across various departments. Equally important is the need to build trust between responsible individuals within government departments/organizations and the public. In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone present, and we will continue working hand in hand with the people to achieve our goal of “Remove Corruption, Promote Prosperity.”

Thank you all.