Presidential spokesperson, Deputy Minister of Information U Ye Htut and Deputy Health Minister Dr Than Aung have been nominated to take on the top jobs at their respective ministries on July 30.

Media outlets reported that the pair had their names submitted to the hluttaw after President U Thein Sein accepted the resignations of Minister of Information U Aung Kyi and Minister of Health Dr Pe The tKhin on July 29.

The news was announced at 8pm on the government controlled MRTV television station. Although the ministers were said to have resigned of their own volition, the timing has led to speculation from some sections of the press that it may have been influenced by recent tensions between the media and the President’s office.
 
“One can imagine that this is a result of the recent problems that have arisen in media circles,” U Kyaw Min Swe, secretary of the Myanmar Interim Press Council, told Mizzima on July 29, referring to recent incidents such as the imprisonment of four journalists and the chief executive officer of Unity Journal.

“No one was expecting this, I think there might have been an issue between the ministers and the Union Solidarity and Development Party,” said U Thiha Saw, also of the MIPC.

As Minister of Information, U Aung Kyi attempted to have the 10th session of the hluttaw approve his proposed Public Service Media Bill but it was reported to be widely criticised by both members of the hluttaw and the media.

Before moving to the Ministry of Information in August 2012, U Aung Kyi has acted as Minister for Labour with a concurrent responsibility for liaison with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.