During a debate on proportional representation, parliamentary speaker Thura U Shwe Mann warned a National League for Democracy MP to mind his own business and a military MP supported a move he believed would increase the accountability of governance.
During the debate held in the Pyithu Hluttaw on July 28, Dr Aung Moe Nyo (National League for Democracy, Pwintphyu township, Magway Region) said that the proposal for the introduction of a new voting system in the lower house of parliament had been unclear.
“I don't understand what he means by urge, who did he urge? Did he urge the government, the parliament or the election commission? The speaker has the right to dismiss this proposal,” he said in reference to the proposal on proportional representation tabled by U Aung Zin (National Democratic Force, Pazundaung township, Yangon Region) on July 24.
Thura U Shwe Mann said in response, “Dr Aung Moe Nyo is criticising the right and authority of the speaker, Dr Aung Moe Nyo should mind his own business.”
Colonel Myint Han, an appointed military MP, said that introducing a system of proportional representation would be a sensible move from the perspective of the country’s geography; when one considered the dispersed settlements of the various ethnic groups and the form of hluttaw and government currently in place.
He said that there was proof that a system that directly linked votes to the outcome of the election would improve the accountability of governance and increase the likelihood of a coalition government that would force parties to negotiate after the next election.
Colonel Myint Han added that the process of democracy should also step forward gradually as its currently stands on soft and delicate ground.
Dr Zaw Myint Maung (National League for Democracy, Kyaukpadaung township, Mandalay Region) said “the reason we lost democracy in the parliamentary era was not due to the first past the post system, it was caused by a military coup and we should not ignore that.”
He added that he questioned which political expert had ever claimed that the currently used ‘first past the post’ system would lead to political instability within the country.
Union Solidarity and Development MPs argued that a ‘first past the post’ system was unfair because it exaggerated the results, while a system of proportional representation would enhance national unity because it would allow representation from a wider selection of ethnicity and political parties.
They added that such a system would encourage a higher level of political engagement and electoral turn-out.
