EMG stands firm on report, despite threat of govt lawsuit
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Eleven Media Group refused to backtrack on a report questioning expenditures on printing presses by the information ministry, despite the Ministry of Information's threat of a lawsuit.
In a letter sent to the Interim Myanmar Press Council dated June 9, EMG – which is a partner of this publication – also doubted the integrity of the press council for supporting the ministry’s position.
EMG on June 2 published a report on the ministry’s allocation of public funds in the purchase of four Orient Web Offset printing presses for the state-owned Kyaymon and Myanma Alin newspapers. The ministry lodged a complaint with the press council, which in turn accused the media group of damaging the dignity of the ministry.
“Since we have solid evidence about the information ministry causing a loss in state funds through its press purchases, we suggest that the interim Press Council stands by the truth,” EMG said in its letter.
In the report, Orient Hi Tower Unit Presses were bought from India, at a price above their actual prices.
Nay Htun Naing, executive editor of the Daily Eleven, said that a unit costing US$400,000 was marked up to more than $1 million.
At the press conference on June 6, Win Zaw Htay, the director of the news and periodicals enterprise under the ministry, claimed that the data included in that article was incorrect and said that the purchases were made in accord with bidding procedures.
“In addition to our current information, we have detailed facts and are also cooperating with our partners in India. The information we receive will be shown to the public if necessary,” said EMG managing director Dr Thein Myint.
He urged the anti-corruption commission to investigate the case.
