Proportional Representation (PR) system which has been practiced by many western countries, may not be appropriate or suited for Burma in the current political situation as majority of its citizens are not ready, said Sai Ai Pao, President of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP).

“Democratic political system reinstated in the country is still in its early infancy. Most people lack even basic knowledge about what the principle of democracy is. That is why I have been saying ‘PR system is not suited for the country’. But I am not saying for the lowland people who speak and use Burmese as daily language”, said Sai Ai Pao, who is also Minister for Shan State Ministry of Mines.

It has been reported that when the next parliamentary session is called, the current Myanmar government may legislate the PR system, some MPs have been quoted as saying.

Sai Ai Pao reasons that: “United Kingdom, France and Germany have been democratic countries for more than a half century. We are just at starting point. We even have very little experience of running elections. That is why I am in favor to go with the PR system. We can’t accept it at least for the time being.”

Proportional Representation or PR, he explained, is a system in which electoral vote is distributed in ratio. For instance, in an election, there are 5 political parties with 10 candidates. Say, an A party won 50% of electoral vote, the other 2 parties: B and C won 30% and 20% respectively. In this example, A has won 50% of electoral vote which legitimizes it to elect 5 MPs; while B 30% with 3 MPs and C 20% with 2 MPs have to be elected accordingly.

The SNDP, also known by its party symbol “White Tiger”, is reportedly recruiting young educated people, 5 in each townships where its party is active and enrolled its candidates to compete with other political parties in 2015 general elections.