Channel NewsAsia, Yangon :Myanmar’s president has urged the creation of a new ministry for Aung San Suu Kyi’s state advisor position, official media reported Friday (May 6), a move that will deepen her influence and likely rile the powerful army.Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency by the military-drafted constitution despite having led her pro-democracy party to a landslide victory in November.She has instead hoovered up a slew of other senior positions, including foreign minister,president’s officer minister, and the specially-devised role of state counsellor, which gives her vaguely-defined powers to guide parliamentary affairs. The broad array of powers across government has helped the veteran activist fulfil a pledge to rule “above” her presidential proxy and close ally Htin Kyaw. Shortly after taking office she used her role as state counsellor to announce a major political prisoner release in April.
