Elites oppose charter change, says MP

He added that many obstacles to peace will arise if the constitution cannot be changed.

He also said the process of building a true federal union will never be achieved and permanent national peace will be far away even if a nationwide ceasefire agreement is reached if the constitution is not extensively changed. 

"Everyone knows that the 2008 Constitution was created to be 99.9 per cent unchangeable. Almost all the people want it to be changed as it is undemocratic. The international community also wants it changed. But a group of people who want to protect their own interests doesn’t want it changed. Where should we stand? For this [small] group or for the people? The answer is clear," he continued.

The MP pointed out that the constitutional amendment is in the hands of the legislative and executive branches and the military, saying that it must be changed in order for a federal republic to be established.

"This is the period of transition for the country. If the legislative and executive branches and the military can reshape the country by taking into account the lessons of the past, their dignity shall live on into the future," he concluded.

The parliament of Myanmar kicked off its 12th session in Nay Pyi Taw this week with discussions centred on constitutional amendment and pay rises for civil servants.

Aye Mauk, secretary of the Constitutional Amendment Committee in the Union parliament, said a charter change bill will be submitted for the 12th time with support from 20 per cent of the MPs. He said the bill was likely to be discussed by the parliament.

"We have collected signatures of 20 per cent of the MPs, who support charter change. The bill will be submitted to parliament. We will also try to complete the work of constitutional amendment as scheduled. Parliament must deal with this issue now," said Aye Mauk.

He also quoted Union parliament speaker Thura Shwe Mann as saying that a national referendum must be held in May for charter change.

MPs demanded that the constitutional amendment issue be handled in parliament without fail as the general election is scheduled to take place in early November.

"We have to watch whether the parliament will really amend the constitution. The Constitutional Amendment Committee, formed with 31 parliamentarians, was found to have not done much since the parliament began its recess. Anyhow, the answer will come out this time as to whether the constitution will really be amended," said a lower house MP from the oppositional National League for Democracy. 

In this session, parliament also plans to assess and approve budgets for government departments.

The salaries of civil servants will reportedly increase at the beginning of the 2015-16 fiscal year, which begin on April 1.

Parliamentary committees said some inefficient government projects will be cancelled to avoid the inflation that many fear would result from the civil servants' salary increases.

"Parliament wants the lowest-level government staffer to earn a minimum wage of Ks 120,000 (about US$120) per month. The maximum wage should be eight times the minimum wage. Parliament and government will coordinate on this," said Sai Thiha Kyaw, a member of Union parliament's Public Accounts Joint Committee.

Parliament is also due to review a taxation bill submitted by the government, as well as four laws promoting national and religious segregation.