If I were the Prime Minister of Myanmar (Burma)

If I were the Prime Minister of Burma

I still have a small thought that one day I would become the Prime Minister of Burma.  If I were the Prime Minister of Burma, like many other Burmese, I will do everything in my power to bring up our cherished land from the poverty.  It’s easier said than done.  That’s what every regime in developing and poverty-sticking nations promise to their people.  Words fail in those nations.  Not many countries revive from the poverty.  There are three key areas I wish to put all my resources and efforts to reform the country: Unity, Integrity & Excellence. 

The very first thing I long for change is to unite all people of Burma: Buddhists or Muslims, Bamar or Karen, Indian or Chinese, young or old, uptown girl or rural boy.  It is very fundamental to be united among all residents to rebuild a nation.  Unity will bring stability of a nation upon which reliable economic resources can be laid down.  Without stability, whatever rebuild will be unstable.  In order to unify among different kinds of people, we must have a common purpose or a shared vision.  When people are unified in purpose, differences are not only respected, but they can be truly valued for the synergistic value.  Therefore, I must, as the Prime Minister, put together all ethnic groups into one people of a nation based on following two core values and principles, rather than their ethnicity or social status as they don’t count. 

The very first principle I like to promote is Integrity.  Corruption undermines everything.  Whatever we build after our unification will be jettisoned if the corruption is deep rooted in the society.  I must endeavor to eliminate corruption from our unified society.  To eradicate corruption, we must embrace the value of incorruptibility.  In other words, we all must have integrity in building the nation.  With education and awareness, anti-corruption campaigns will be carried out throughout the country.  Anti-corruption task force will be set up and anti-corruption laws will be reinforced with stringent and non-biased measures.  Whoever corrupts must be brought to justice and penalize.  No exception should be given to anyone.  To strengthen eyes and ears of government body, freedom of speech will be recognized and all forms of media restrictions will be lifted.  Time bound policies with measurable key performance indicators and code of conducts will be established for all actors in public and private sectors.

Second core value I’d like to advocate is “Excellence” in performing our citizenry duties.  We all must dedicate and commit ourselves to give our best efforts in rebuilding a nation.  It is not enough to be very good while we all can be excellent.  We must aim to be excellent in everything we do and we must pay back to a nation and its people with our excellent services.  From education to health, from manufacturing to arts, we will devise ways and methods to deliver services in effective and efficient manners.  For instance, our education system should be reformed with no delay to be an education system comparable to the world standard with focus on quality education.  Learning by heart or so-called parrot learning must be discouraged at all levels of education system.  To be able to standout in a globalized world with national identify, emphasis will be made not only on science, mathematics English but also to national languages.  Liberal arts education will also be strengthened in our education system.

It’s time to unite, act and accomplish together for the nation we love.

Max

16 October 2010