By NYAN HLAING LYNN | FRONTIER
NAY PYI TAW — Daw Su Su Lwin, the wife of outgoing president U Htin Kyaw has denied reports that her husband retired this week due to poor health, saying that the move had been “planned in advance”.
On Wednesday, a statement posted to Facebook by the President’s Office said Htin Kyaw had resigned because he wanted to “take a rest”. The government has previously confirmed that he sought medical treatment abroad on several occasions, most recently in Singapore in January.
“When we went to Singapore for a medical check-up, his situation was good,” Su Su Lwin told reporters in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday. “He’s putting on a bit of weight again,” she said, adding that he had sought medical treatment for his stomach and intestine.
She added that the family was not concerned that Htin Kyaw would not receive a state pension, due to him not completing a full term as president, and that when he initially agreed to become president, the plan was only to do so for between three and six months.
Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.
“We are not people who consider a pension or other opportunities,” said Su Su Lwin, who is also a National League for Democracy lawmaker in the Pyithu Hluttaw for Thongwa Township, Yangon Region. “We consider we can give to the country, as [Aung San Suu Kyi] said. We never thought we could take from the country.”
She called on the people to support her husband’s successor, expected to be former Pyithu Hluttaw speaker U Win Myint, who was nominated for the presidency by the lower house on Friday.
Htin Kyaw will continue to live in Nay Pyi Taw, Su Su Lwin said, while she will continue to represent her constituency.
