Corruption a major obstacle to national development, “Devastating Disease” that destroys society: Union Minister

Union Minister U Myo Zaw Thein said that corruption can be a major obstacle to implementing a country’s comprehensive development and can be described as a “devastating disease” that destroys society.

Union Minister U Myo Zaw Thein made the remarks at an awareness-raising and discussion session on anti-corruption, jointly organized by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development and the Anti-Corruption Commission, held at the ministry’s conference hall on the morning of October 2.

A total of 250 people, including Union Minister U Myo Zaw Thein, Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman U Soe Thein, commission members and officials, CPU members and staff, attended the event.

At the event, Union Minister U Myo Zaw Thein expressed his thanks to the chairman, members and officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission for attending the “Awareness-Raising and Discussion Session on Corruption Prevention”. He said that the session would enable staff to gain a thorough understanding of acts that may constitute corruption, circumstances in which unintentional actions could constitute corruption by causing losses to the State, the adverse effects of corruption, as well as provisions, offences and penalties under the Anti-Corruption Law.

The Union Minister said corruption could be described as a “devastating disease” that can seriously hinder a country’s comprehensive development and destroy society. He said corruption constitutes “moral degradation” and is also a criminal offence committed knowingly for personal interests and gains. He added that corruption can cause a country to lag behind in its development in various respects and, most seriously, undermine public trust in government departments while contributing to the deterioration of the country’s administrative, economic and socio-cultural systems.

The Union Minister said corruption can occur in various forms across different sectors. He stressed that civil servants must be particularly aware of and avoid corrupt practices, as those found guilty of corruption could face effective legal action and suffer serious damage to their own and their families’ reputations in society. He also urged the officers and staff attending the session not only to apply the knowledge they gained about anti-corruption measures themselves but also to share it with their colleagues and organizations, and to work together in anti-corruption efforts to build clean, corruption-free departments and organizations capable of serving the interests of the State and the entire public.

Afterwards, Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman U Soe Thein said the commission has been conducting awareness-raising discussions for civil servants at Union ministries and organizations, including the commission, as well as at region and state governments, with the aim of reducing losses of public funds and increasing awareness of anti-corruption measures. He said awareness-raising and preventive measures were being accelerated to prevent corruption before it occurs. He also said that employees providing services to the public must comply with the Civil Service Law and Rules, as well as relevant laws, rules, orders and directives issued by government departments and organizations.