A government audit report released to members of Burma's Lower House of Parliament last week provides evidence of rampant corruption in six key ministries under the former junta, all of which were led by prominent members of the current administration.

According to the findings of an investigation carried out by the office of the auditor general, the six ministries were accused of misusing billions of kyat in government funds and engaging in a variety of illegal transactions.

The ministries singled out by the report were the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Co-operatives, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Ministry of Mining and the Ministries of Industry No (1) and No (2).

The Ministry of Information is led by Kyaw Hsan, who held the same post under the military regime that ruled Burma until last year. He is regarded as a hardliner opposed to reforms initiated by President Thein Sein.

Former Minister of Industry No (1) Aung Thaung is currently acting as the government's chief negotiator in talks with ethnic armed groups, and former Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Htay Oo  now serves as the head of the ruling military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.

Former Ministry of Industry No (2) Soe Thein, former Minister of Mining Ohn Myint and former Minister of Co-operatives Tin Htut also have active roles under the current administration.

Khine Maung Yi, a Lower House MP from the opposition National Democratic Force, told The Irrawaddy that he welcomed the report, but urged the respective ministries to carry out thorough investigations and take action against those responsible for wrongdoing.