The Arakan State government faces criticism about the allocation of additional budgets, at a time when a new Union government and region and state governments are about to be set up. In the additional budget from the outgoing Arakan State government, the highest amount went to Gwa Township, which happens to be the home town of Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu.

MP Dr. Zaw Zaw Myint Maung from Buthedaung Township commented “where there is no equality, it will cause problems friction and disunity.A big gap among townships in the budget allocations is not good.”

The Arakan State government allocated additional budgets for 2020-2021 fiscal year, for regional development in 17 townships in Arakan State. The Gwa Township receives the maximum budget of Ks-527.930 million, while the minimum budget of Ks-7.5 million is earmarked for Pauktaw Township.  Yathaedaung Township was not included in the budget.

The MPs from Yathaedaung Township said they are not happy for their exclusion from the extra budget drafted by the Arakan State government.

These MPs denounced the lopsided allocation of the highest amount of budget to Gwa Township which is a township of a smaller area and fewer population compared to other townships in Arakan State, as unfair.

“According to the procedures, it needs to equally allocate 50 per cent of budget to the townships, the rest 20 per cent based on geographical areas, and the remaining 30 per cent, based on the size of the population. In 2019-2020 FY, the Arakan State government allocated more budgets to the townships where the Chief minister and ministers are living than other townships. Should the government go against the procedures for the budget allocation? More budgets are spent on the ministers’ native towns. The MPs always put fingers on it in parliament. But the situation remains unchanged. There is no equality,“MP Dr. Zaw Zaw Myint Maung added.