The Open Myanmar Initiative (OMI), a non-profit organisation that advocates the right to information and monitors parliamentary activities, said the Burmese public has a “weak knowledge and understanding of their country’s legislative process”.

Presenting its third Parliamentary Monitoring Report at a conference in Rangoon over the weekend, the Burmese NGO also called on lawmakers to improve the quality of debates and discussions in parliament.

One MP at the event responded by saying that one of the reasons the public are failing to hear about parliamentary motions is that the country’s media do not report or have self-censored coverage of parliamentary debates.

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The OMI previously issued Parliamentary Monitoring Reports in April and June this year.

Ko Ko Gyi, an advisor to the OMI, is quoted on the OMI website saying: “We want the public to know the important role of parliament in nation-building. [This] discussion brings together internationally renowned experts to exchange views and focus on the process of parliament session in respective eras. If the process of parliamentary mechanism is strengthened, the problems of the country’s federal system, economic and social sectors would be dealt effectively and successfully.”