Myanmar has been implementing the task of eradicating corruption and bribery and an Anti-Corruption Committee, led by Vice President Dr. Sai Mauk Kham, has been formed to deal with the issue.

At Monday's coordination meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Sai called for implementing the work efficiently and effectively, warning that although bribery and corruption carried different meanings, punitive actions would be taken in accord with the law as both breaches the Rule of Law.

He also called for cooperation with international community as it is hard to address corruption which is a global concern.

He stressed the need to cooperate with regional countries, ASEAN countries and international organizations like Transparency International while relying on public complaints in a fight against corruption.

He called for efforts to expose corruption cases and enhance public awareness in cooperation with civil societies and the media.

He noted that embezzlements of development funds and international donations had become frequent in conflict-stricken areas and disaster-hit regions at present.

Corruption has undermined national dignity and dignity of each individual in the country. Corruption could hinder development, international recognition and foreign investments of Myanmar as it is embarking on the process of democratization, he added.

He asked for help from the Ministry of Home Affairs, an effective mechanism, to accomplish its mission.

He stressed the need to find out the root cause of corruption and to heighten the public awareness of corruption on a wider scale.

Meanwhile, a workshop on engaging parliamentarians in the anti-corruption campaign was held in Nay Pyi Taw over the weekend to prepare for drafting anti-corruption bill.

The workshop focused on parliament's ethics and obligation, supervision, UN Convention against Corruption, concept of corruption and transparency of finance and public finance management.

The government has vowed to fight corruption effectively, warning that corruption is an unacceptable and unpardonable misconduct in building the disciplined democratic nation and affects the dignity of the nation and the people.

In a statement on anti-corruption issued earlier, the Home Ministry said the government is rewriting a bill to replace the existing Suppression of Corruption Act 1948 at the parliament to meet the demand of the present time and international norms.

The statement invite citizens to report bribery cases to the Bureau of Special Investigation and Head Office of the Home Ministry.

The culture of demanding of bribes in the form of cash gifts as grease money still persists in the government departments and private enterprises as well as in interaction between government staff and departments, the statement said.

The statement called for public participation in the elimination of bribery and corruption to ensure good governance and clean government.