CNI News
26 April 2025
The Electronic Government (E-Government) system should be implemented to overcome the difficulties that took place in operating government mechanism due to the earthquake in Myanmar, vice chairman of the National Democratic Force Party (NDF), U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News.
On March 28, 2025, an earthquake centered in Sagaing, near Mandalay, destroyed homes, religious buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, and roads and bridges.
In addition, staff housing, ministries, and government offices within the Naypyidaw Council area were damaged, as were the Hluttaw buildings. Therefore, if the Electronic Government system is implemented now, the difficulties caused by the losses can be overcome, said U Htet Aung Kyaw.
“A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck, and there was a lot of damage and loss. We have to rebuild, and we have to build earthquake-resistant buildings. We started planning to implement e-government around 2003 or 2004. We haven’t been able to do it effectively yet. The electronic government system has already been successfully implemented around the world. If we work hard and implement this system, we can overcome all the difficulties caused by the current damage." he said.
Electronic Government is a system that uses electronic communication devices, computers, mobile phones, computer network devices, ICT technology, and Internet technology to deliver government services to the public in a fast and efficient manner.
The system was first implemented in Myanmar in 2003, but has not been successfully used to date. Political analysts point out that the failure of the electronic government system is due to weaknesses in implementation and the presence of forces that do not want reform.
If the electronic government system is implemented, it will be difficult to commit corruption and irregularities. He wondered if the system was not implemented because officials did not want that to happen, Dr. Myo Set Thway, General Secretary of the People's Pioneer Party (PPP), told CNI News.
“This is something that needs to be done, every government has said it will be done, but as far as I can tell, the reason for not doing it is not because of technology, but because they don't want to do these things on purpose, I'm not sure why. What they don't do is, to put it bluntly, because governments are bad. Even if it's not on a nationwide scale, there are places and conditions where it can be done. Not using this system is very conservative and I would say that it lacks courage in terms of ideology. If this system is used, it will be difficult to take bribes, it will be difficult to commit irregularities, and it is even possible to wonder whether the officials do not use it because they do not want these things to happen." he said.
Among the government buildings damaged by the earthquake in the Naypyidaw Council area, those built on landfill were most damaged, said the SAC chairman.
Therefore, when reconstructing office buildings, soil tests should be conducted before new construction and renovation work can be carried out, he said.
