Former Myanmar president 'becomes a monk': State media

The retired junta general who steered Myanmar's last five years of reforms has temporarily become a monk, according to state media, days after he ceded power to a new government led by Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party.

Pictures widely shared on social media showed a shaven-headed Thein Sein wearing his trademark spectacles and draped in the deep maroon robes of the Buddhist clergy.

Myanmar language state newspaper Myanma Alinn said he had entered a monastery in the central town of Pyin Oo Lwin on Monday for a five day stint, taking the monk title "U Thandidamma".

"Those close to U Thein Sein said he will practice meditation during a temporary monkhood of about five days," the paper said. (Courtesy of news.asiaone.com)

Myanmar minister praised after deemed anti-Muslim barb

A hardline Buddhist group has applauded weekend comments by Myanmar’s new religious affairs minister that appeared derogatory to the country’s Muslim population.

A statement by ultra-nationalist Ma Ba Tha (the Race and Religion Protection Organization) late Tuesday lashed out at Muslim organizations for demanding an apology from Thura Aung Ko after he described Islam in Myanmar as “a religion by the minority associate citizens”.

Thura Aung Ko was only last week elected as the religious affairs and culture minister in Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s new government.

In a statement, Ma Ba Tha defended the minister’s comment as “right” and matching the group’s stance, while claiming that it was “totally unacceptable” for Muslim groups — such as the London-based Burmese Muslim Association and five local organizations — to demand an apology. (Courtesy of news.videonews.us)

China will have to repair damaged public opinion in Myanmar: business leader

China will have to work to regain the goodwill of Myanmar’s people, a local business leader said, after years of poor behaviour by mainland businesses soured local opinion.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi (王毅) met with his Myanmar counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, to discuss recent stalled infrastructure developments including a US$3.6 billion dam project.

It was her first official meeting since being appointed Myanmar’s foreign minister after the recent change of government.

But Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry vice-president Dr Maung Maung Lay said unethical Chinese businesses and a close relationship with the previous regime had created problems.

“Many unscrupulous traders dump substandard, spurious products in Myanmar and that has tarnished the image of China,” he said. (Courtesy of South China Morning Post)