Ministerial positions to be slashed under next govt

NAY PYI TAW — The National League for Democracy will cut at least 15 ministerial and deputy ministerial positions when it takes office on April 1, the party said on Wednesday. 

The party will also not allocate more than one deputy minister to each minister in the next cabinet, according to party spokesman Zaw Myint Maung on Wednesday, who cited the NLD’s desire to reduce government expenses.

“It is intended to reduce the cost of the government,” he told Frontier. “Small is beautiful, you know. We are not doing it to look good. We want to make the expense of the government the smallest amount possible.”

The government of President U Thein Sein, who will leave office at the end of the month, had 36 ministers for most of its five-year term, including three military appointees to the Home Affairs, Defence and Border Affairs. Many ministerial portfolios were also supported by two deputy ministers.

At the Union Parliament meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning, president-elect U Htin Kyaw is expected to submit a proposal for the make-up of the next cabinet, with a reduction in the overall number of ministries in line with the NLD’s election manifesto from last year.

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Debate on the next cabinet will be held on Friday.

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