Suu Kyi close aide voted Myanmar's next president

Htin Kyaw is not a parliament representative but a trusted person of Suu Kyi. His father, Min Thu Won, was elected in 1990 Election representing the NLD for the Lower House seat of Kwungyangone constituency and a deceased well-known poet in Myanmar literature. His wife is a Lower House MP of the NLD representing Thongwa constituency, a daughter of senior leader of the NLD named U Lwin.

Htin Kyaw was born in 1962, a holder of a master degree in Economics. He studied in England under scholarship. 

He was the one who could enter into the house of Suu Kyi while she was under house arrest. People regard him as honest and trustworthy. A seventy-year-old Htin Kyaw is passionate in writing like his father. The book named ‘Ah ba Bawa Ah ba Ah Kyaung Ta Say Ta Saung’ (About my father) written by him with the pseudonym of Dalaban is famous. He is one of those leading Daw Khin Kyi Foundation.

The other two candidates with fewer votes will be vice presidents. They are Henry Van Thio and Myint Swe, the military's candidate.

Henry Van Thio who is nominated as vice president by the Upper House NLD MPs is an MP of Upper House.

A fifty-eight year-old and father of a daughter Henry is a former military servant. He is a holder of B.A (Dip in Law) and studied at Mandalay University and Yangon University. He is a Chin national and Christian. He served at Infantry Regiment No. 46 (Putao), 40 (Hupyin), 223 (Momeik), No. 2 Tactical Operation, South East Command (Hpa-an), South East Command (Mawlamyaing), No. 503 Light Infantry Division (Thibaw), No. 4 Light Infantry Division (Inma).

He also served as in-charge of Virginia Industry (Mandalay), Deputy General Manager of Management Department (Industry – 1), and in –charge of Belin Beverage Industry. His wife is Dr. Shwe Hlwan.

All the three were qualified though General Than Soe raised an objection to the nomination of Henry Van Htio as a vice president. He questioned the candidate’s six-year stint abroad with his family and suggested scrutinising the period in accordance with the presidential election law to assess whether it was done with “the permission of the Union”, as defined by the constitution.

The 2008 Constitution says “the President and Vice Presidents shall be a person who has resided continuously in the Union for at least 20 years up to the time of his election as President; Proviso: An official period of stay in a foreign country with the permission of the Union shall be counted as a residing period in the Union”.

Mann Win Khaing said the presidential qualification scrutiny board evaluated the three vice-presidential nominees, and six of the seven members of the scrutiny board agreed that the vice-presidential nominees proposed by the Lower House and the Upper House are qualified.

The vice-presidential nominee proposed by the Tatmadaw was also found to be qualified, he told the parliament.

The findings did not clear up reports about Myint Swe, the vice-presidential nominee proposed by the Tatmadaw.

Reports say Myint Swe’s son-in-law was granted Myanmar citizenship recently, raising doubt as to whether it was done in accordance with the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law.

“The scrutiny was done in accordance with the laws and bylaws. Everything is OK. There were discussions about some matters, and they’re recorded. The Tatmadaw’s objection was also recorded. It’s about a vice-presidential nominee’s foreign stay. Information is available. And the matter of the vice-presidential nominee proposed by the Tatmadaw will also be in accordance with the law. His son-in-law was a foreigner in 2012 and became a Myanmar citizen in 2014,” MP Ba Myo Thane told the media.