Thein Nyunt was responsible for land grabs for the sprawling city and behind the planning of a row of six mansions in Naypyitaw for Than Shwe, who took the largest plot with 6.4 hectares (16 acres). His deputy, Maung Aye, future speaker Shwe Mann, future president Thein Sein and future Union Election Commission chair Tin Aye took the remaining plots on the row.
Thein Nyunt, then chairman of Naypyitaw Council, sold plots to ministers and slightly smaller areas to deputy ministers for a few thousand US dollars each. Top civil servants were also allocated land.
Private companies had to construct the homes and military cronies won the contracts.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/obituaries/naypyitaws-first-mayor-thein-nyunt-dies.html
3-22-2024
