Broker created expensive cost for applying (Mon State) Ma La Ma motorbike license

Independent Mon News Agency

May 25, 2004  

Because of payment to broker too expensive, the cost for applying to get (Mon State) Ma La Ma motorbike license costs are higher than before, the local traders said.  

“Now we have to pay 30, 000 Kyat more to get Ma La Ma (literally – Moulmein, the capital of Mon State) license,” Nai Kong, a motorbike trader said.  

“We just needed to pay 120, 000 Kyat to get a license before. But now the officers are using brokers in their circule of corruption and we have to pay up to 150, 000 Kyat (~ 180 US Dollar),” Nai Kon added. 

“The brokers also make us difficulty for applying the license” U Toung from Ye township who is trading the motorbike said. “Now we needed to find brokers who close to the (SPDC) license officers and need to pay to the brokers for their service charge,” U Toung added.  

The brokers are linking with the officers, the people need to pay for their service charge and if the people who do not join the brokers they cannot apply for the license. “Every people need to join with the broker even they hate it. But if they do not join the brokers they have no chance to get license” U Toung said. 

In Southern Burma area, the Burmese government ordered to previous “Ma” motorbike license holders to apply Ma La Ma for their government fund raising programme. The government withdrew the Ma license that they did for the motorbike that imported from Thailand and China illegally and ordered to bike ownersto apply new Ma La Ma licenses, if not they will seize the motorbikes.  

Like the motorbikes, the government will give illegal cars for license soon. It is rumour around the illegal car traders, said Nai Oo an illegal importer.  

On the other hand, the military government is arresting the illegal car traders and seizing the cars that imported from Japan via Thailand illegally.