Shan State Admin Deputy Director, Businessmen Colluding in Major Corruption in Tenders and Fund Withdrawals

Mekong, July 15 U Htun Htun, the Deputy Director of the administrative department of the State Administration Council's Shan State government, is allegedly colluding with Ko Zaw Myint, the owner of Yatanarmar Myay, Maw Myay Shan, and Mao Cherry companies, and U Nay Myo (also known as Khun Myo Myint U), the nominal owner of Shan Cherry Infotech Solution, in large-scale corruption related to tender projects and the processes for withdrawing funds for these projects, according to the Shan State business community. U Htun Htun has monopolized projects such as the construction of staff housing in the forest district, the import of office supplies including computers, and the fencing of administrative department staff housing in Mingalar U ward, granting these business owners the right to undertake these works. Furthermore, he has been facilitating fund withdrawals before project completion and allowing delays beyond the contractually stipulated deadlines, according to sources close to the business community and related individuals. "Some projects are directly awarded without tenders, while others have token tenders. Currently, at the Shan State government office, staff are using substandard computers, photocopiers, and office electrical appliances. For the 2-room, 3-story building constructed by Zaw Myint in the forest area, funds were advanced before the project was completed," the source stated. The person pulling the strings behind Shan Cherry Infotech Solution company is the son-in-law of U Than Swe Win, the Secretary of the Shan State government organization, and U Nay Myo is acting as the nominal owner. It is understood from the business community that these companies are unfairly obtaining business rights through the authority of U Htun Htun and U Than Swe Win. These projects are permitted for the current fiscal year, and the budget for the administrative department staff housing in the forest district is 4,000 lakh kyats, according to one source. "U Htun Htun has been with four government organizations. He has not been transferred and has taken the position of an officer responsible for fund withdrawals, engaging in all sorts of corrupt practices. This has been ongoing since 2022," the source said. Funds and cement for housing construction intended for residents of the Inle region, who were affected by the earthquake disaster last year, were not fully distributed to the respective villages. Instead, they were accounted for, and U Than Swe Win and U Htun Htun, with AD U Ye Aung acting as the facilitator, allegedly misappropriated them for their own housing construction. Businessmen Ko Zaw Myint and U Nay Myo have been obtaining projects by bribing U Htun Htun to their satisfaction, and are also constructing houses for U Than Swe Win, according to sources. "AD U Ye Aung is also involved in the theft. Ko Zaw Myint is building a large house in the Pan Cherry housing estate in Taunggyi and another large house in Kalaw for U Than Swe Win. Other government departments are no longer respected. The entire public wishes for effective action to be taken against the large-scale corruption being carried out by exploiting authority," said one source. The administrative department-owned staff housing of U Aung Htun San on the West Circular Road in Taunggyi city has also been granted business rights to U Than Swe Win's son-in-law under the name of U Nay Myo at an extremely low price, and a clinic has been opened under the name of Health and Happiness. Local residents point out that this is the operation of a departmental building as a family business. #MeKongNews #TaunggyiCity #AdminDept #UHtunHtun #Corruption #UThanSweWin