Ironic Revolution

One of my professors recently flied back from Myanmar amid a controversial security service of the Yangon International Airport. In the class, the immediate transformation of the Yangon city public transportation system was discussed as a case study of the public policy process subject. The professor was told that the unstated intention of the ill-prepared or un-prepared urgent change of the previous deteriorating ma-hta-tha (Yangon Motor Vehicles Supervisory Committee) into a (so-called) new YBS (Yangon Bus Service) is just to bring down the ex-military personnel dominated industry rather than trying to serve the Yangon citizens with a smooth transportation service. If what he has heard is true, then it can be concluded as a foolish implementation of a good-for-nothing insane idea. The reality of the story is that the same drivers, and the same bus conductors (locally known as spares) have been running under the supervision of the same but with a new name supervisory body called YRTA (Yangon Region Transport Authority) which is just relabeled the previous steering committee with same members. I am not sure whether the authority is trying to put the old wine into the new bottle or the new wine into the old bottle because the new scheme is inevitably operated by the rotten apples the people actually want to kick out. The highly-expected and optimistic subjects of the ruined old system gradually come to understand that the ad hoc revolution of the most important part of the grassroots’ daily routine in Yangon plotted by the democratically elected chief minister is no more than a cosmetic change. The authority is unable to answer the question of why it has been implemented so urgently without a proper preparation despite needless to do so. T(he)y seems to have decided the move based on their hoplophobia instead of atelophobia. Now t(he)y put all their efforts into reinventing the wheel, or probably there might become a horse of a different color if the Yangoners are fortunate enough to enjoy a Singapore’s MRT-like convenience transportation in the foreseeable future.