Myanmar elects civilian president

MYANMAR’S parliament yesterday voted in Aung San Suu Kyi’s close aide and long-time friend Htin Kyaw as the country’s first civilian president in half a century, as Thailand’s prime minister and junta chief and investors offered congratulations. 

Htin Kyaw, 69, hailed his elevation to the top post as “Suu Kyi’s victory”, a clear nod to the Nobel laureate’s plan that he serve as a proxy for her because she is constitutionally barred from becoming president despite her party’s landslide victory in the November election.

MPs erupted in applause as the result was announced after a lengthy ballot count by hand in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, in which Htin Kyaw took 360 of 652 votes cast.

“This is sister Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory,” the newly elected president Htin Kyaw told reporters after the vote. “Thank you.”

The still-powerful military holds a quarter of the seats in parliament and maintains a right under the constitution to nominate one of the three candidates for president. Its candidate, retired general Myint Swe, who is on a US blacklist, received 213 votes, making him the first vice president. 

Henry Van Thio, who is from the Chin ethnic minority and also a member of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), was chosen as the second vice president with 79 votes.

Htin Kyaw is known among political commentators as a party insider with close ties to Suu Kyi going back many decades, including as her classmate at secondary school in Yangon.

In the words of the news agency Myanmar Now, Htin Kyaw has “impeccable pedigree and family connections”. 

Known for his quiet manner, it appears to be his loyalty rather than his charisma that made him an ideal presidential choice.

In Thailand, the government and business community congratulated the new president, saying they viewed his election as a positive political development. 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his congratulations to Myanmar’s new president but added there was “no particular difference” between military and civilian leaders, in reference to Htin Kyaw’s new status as Myanmar’s first civilian president in more than 50 years.

“Why do you have to categorise types of leaders?” the junta leader asked in response to a reporter’s question. “Military, civilian, whatever the leaders are, they are all capable of administrating the country.”

More foreign investors are expected to 

 make investment decisions regarding the neighbouring country based on the election of a civilian president, according to Chaiyarit Anuchitworawong, Bangkok Bank executive vice president. Bangkok Bank is the only Thai commercial bank with a branch licence in Myanmar.

Foreign investors have waited for a clearer picture of political affairs after last November’s general election, he said. 

The outlook for Myanmar’s economy is now expected to be brighter, and the country will be more attractive for large foreign investment inflows because a civilian leader is seen as a win-win for all parties concerned, he added.

Kraingkrai Kanjanapokin, co-chief executive officer of Index Creative Village, a Thai event-management firm, said he expected no major changes in the private sector during the transition period. “Existing projects will continue as planned for the remaining months of this year.”

Index Creative Village currently has a joint venture in Myanmar in partnership with media powerhouse Forever Group. 

Syamrath Suthanukul, managing director of SCG Logistics Management Co, said Myanmar’s economy would show strong growth as foreign investors gain more confidence in the political transition.