The Administration has been accused of interfering into the Legislative system by using state-owned media to publish official press release from the President's office and circulating news of friction between the President's office and the Union Parliament.
It is said that the disaccord arose between the President and the Union Parliament on the issue of two Draft Laws, namely the States and Regional Parliament Law and the Anti-corruption Law that were submitted to the Union Parliament on August 22.
U Nanda Kyaw Swar, the Deputy Speaker of the Lower Parliament submitted a report on comments given by the Draft Law Committee to the Union Parliament regarding the official press release by the President's Office and the two Draft Laws.
“The official press release by the President's Office on laws which are being deliberated in the Parliament for promulgation, proves the interference of the Administrative Pillar into the Legislative and Judicial Pillars”, said U Nanda Kyaw Swar.
The President disagreed with nine points in the Draft Law on States and Regional Parliament that has been approved by the Union Parliament. He sent his remarks and suggestions to the Parliament, but the Union Parliament approved the law without amending all the points.
Furthermore, there were 12 points in the Anti-corruption Draft Law that became an issue between the President and the Union Parliament. The President sent his comments and remarks for amendment of specific points. The Union Parliament amended only 2 points and approved the remaining 10.
The President's Office page published the points in question and reported the disagreement with the Union Parliament on its official web page on August 7 and 8.
The Draft Law Committee report suggests that the publication by the President's Office can lead to misunderstanding of the situation.
The report states, “Publication of press release regarding transactions between the Union Parliament Patron and the President before announcing it to the Union Parliament Members is tantamount to confusing citizens about the Legislative system.”
The report also says that these publications threaten the reputation of the Union Parliament and it might also mislead the public into thinking that relationship between the President's Office and Parliament is strained.
According to the Draft Law on States and Regional Parliament, any MP from regional Parliaments can discuss and seek information from relevant authorities with regard to proposals that they plan to submit to the Union Parliament.
However, the President disagreed and remarked that in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws, such data and information are restricted. The Union Parliament made an exception of the above clause and approved the Draft Law.
