An interview with U Paung Lun Min Htan, Chin State Minister for Social Affairs and candidate for Tunzan Township in Chin State.
Candidates from the Zomi Congress for Democracy (ZCD) competed in ten constituencies in Chin State and Sagaing Region in the 2020 General Elections held on November 8th. The party secured only two seats for the lower house and Chin State Constituency-2 in Tunzan Township in Chin State. U Paung Lun Min Htan from the ZCD, Chin State Minister for Social Affairs again secured the seat for Chin State Constituency-2 in Tunzan Township. The following is an interview with U Paung Lun Min Htan, Chin State Minister for Social Affairs and candidate for Tunzan Township in Chin State.
Q: May I know your view on the fact that the ZCD only secured two constituencies in Chin State in the recent election?
A: Local parties were strong for more than a month during around two months of the election campaign. But the situation totally changed during the two weeks before the election. I think the peoples’ trust in Aung San Suu Ki the State Counsellor and the Union, changed Chin State’s politics. I think in the current political landscape, people prioritized the reforms of the union. But the Chin party and the ZCD still won support from many villages in Chin State. So such results are a little bit surprising.
Q: The NLD candidates will be the majority in the coming parliamentary tenure in Chin State. As the NLD’s opposition is one from the ZCD and one from the CNLD, the number of opposition is small. What are the impacts and challenges?
A: In my view the legislative matters are weak in the regions, and even weaker in Chin State. During the current five-year tenure of parliament, the majority of candidates are from the NLD. There have been no serious disputes between the NLD and other parties. There are disputes among the candidates from the NLD and the government. That’s why here is no need to worry about it.
Q: What is your priority task for the people in Chin State? What kind of proposal will you submit in parliament?
A: Thanks to God I became a minister in the first tenure of the government. Being a minister, I no longer engage in parliament and can focus on performing government duties. Whether or not I am included in the Chin State government, the most important thing is to enable the people to understand the political and parliamentary procedures and the reforms. We will achieve success only when we make cooperation transparently during the current transitional period either by the NLD or the ZCD.I want emphasis on the allocation of resources and tax in parliament. I think the emergence of a law suited to the Chin State will be the best for the people.
Q: May I know your view on the current Chin State government and Chin State parliament? Are you satisfied with them? What are their advantages and disadvantages?
A: Both the government and the parliament are unable to do much during the five-year tenure. Both the government and the parliament are unable to make significant reforms. The most important thing is that the legislative body needs to be strong.
Most proposals submitted in parliaments are regional development tasks. The legislative matters are relatively weak. We need to control it. We cannot reach a satisfactory level during the five-year tenure of the government led by the NLD. But we can do more for infrastructural development. I am not fully satisfied with the current scope of the legislation.
Q: Which priority sector do you want the new government to implement in Chin State?
A: In the current tenure of government a priority is a motion on organic foods so that we become the chemical-free zone in Chin State. We need to implement hotel and tourism as a clean air industry. the Chin State minister of agriculture, livestock and Irrigation initiated the hotel and tourism project. Chin State has no gold and other natural resources. That is why we need to implement his policy
Q: Would you like something to add?
A: Chin state has many people who are Christians. We need to do all our work with loving-kindness. We compete in the election to represent a constituency we are duty-bound to serve the interest of the people.
