Salai Kyaw Moe Tun — The newly elected National League for Democracy (NLD) MPs from Sagaing Region, Chin State and Karenni State sat for an open book exam last week. The exam was the culmination of a three-day capacity building course held at Shwe San Eain Hotel in Nay Pi Taw from December 20 to 22.
“We don’t know what questions will be asked, but we have to search for the answers on our own within the given time. We were told to search [for the answers] in the books. If we have not read the books, we won’t be able to answer anything within the given time as we won’t know which book we should search in. Mother Su [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi]’s medicine is effective. Now we have gotten back our reading habit. Now, all the rooms are quiet and everyone is reading,” said Daw Thant Wai Kyaw, Sagaing Regional Parliament’s MP from Kalay Township, in a post made on social media prior to the end of the course.
“The teachers have told us that this exam is not for releasing the results but for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, so she can decide what kind of duties she will give” she explained in the post.
The subjects included a constitution course taught by U Ko Ni and another course titled Party Principle, Rules and Regulations, Consecutive Organizations, and the Election Declaration.
“This course is very effective for us. We got to learn how to ask synchronized questions and submit proposals in parliament. We also learned how to speak to the public,” explained Upper House MP U Myo Htike from Chin State's Paletwa Township.
All recently elected MPs from the NLD have attended the three-day course held at Shwe Eain San Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw. The attendees of the training course believe the course will give useful skills.
The first batch of the training course was held for MPs from Kachin State, Shan State, the Mandalay Region from December 16 to 18. The course is being financially supported by controversial Burmese business tycoon Tay Za.
