6. Policy on the Development of the Legal System and Good Governance

Mr. President,

For the country to have a strong economic foundation and a peaceful society, it is essential to have a strong legal foundation, judiciary process, and good governance, especially transparency and freedom from corruption at all levels and in all circles, in both the public and private sectors.

The Government shall modernize the entire legal system so that it is relevant to the changes in the world, by abolishing laws, rules, regulations and injunctions that are unconstitutional and that infringe upon the rights and freedoms of the people; laws that are unenforced, unnecessarily burden the public, and create difficulties, delay, and redundancy in the work of government agencies, and are inimical to national development, in particular, the development of economic laws in response to economic restructuring, to emphasize expanding opportunities for the poor and underprivileged, and boost the nation's competitiveness to meet the demands of globalization.

The Government shall improve the system for the dispensation of justice in an equitable and just manner, so that the public may enjoy thorough and prompt access to and use of the justice process. Moreover, the Government will improve the management of legal studies, develop the competency of legal staff in the public sector, and encourage public awareness of the law in everyday life, rights, freedoms and civic duties, so that basic rights and freedoms may be protected.

The Government shall continue to develop the civil service by restructuring the bureaucracy and introducing the use of information technology for more efficient planning and decision-making, which would render roles and missions more concise, efficient, and responsive to the situation, whether in area supervision or the carrying out of ordinary and special duties and assignments, open to change, and responsive to the needs of the people, using a people-centered approach.

The Government shall continue to promote greater efficiency in the integrated administration system, whether at the provincial or other levels. The Government shall emphasize public sector personnel administration that is virtuous and efficient, improve human resources management and arrange a fair remuneration system.

In addition, public services shall be improved proactively, through direct-to-individual service through one-stop service centers and comprehensive e-government services, capacity building for government agencies and units, development of a new public administration system that is highly flexible and nimble, emphasis on knowledge management and development of government agencies and units into learning organizations.

The Government shall continuously prevent and suppress corruption in the civil service to bring about a transparent and clean civil service, by putting in place an auditing and performance evaluation system based on virtue, ethics, and cost-effectiveness; developing a monitoring process; investigating and punishing wrongdoers severely; disclosing information; improving the public procurement system; ensuring transparency and efficiency in public expenditures; encouraging serious public participation in campaigning on this matter; and instilling social conscientiousness and values so that people will oppose corruption and malfeasance by state officials.

The Government shall promote good corporate governance, in particular through transparent auditing systems, and encourage the private sector to be responsible to clients, customers, and all stakeholders, as well as to society and the environment; strengthen society through consumer protection to ensure fairness; and prevent monopolization and collusion, whether direct and indirect.

Over the next four years, the Government shall promote ethics and morals as guidelines for living and conducting business by all, by seeking cooperation from the Sangha and the ecclesiastical bodies of all religions.