Maung advocated a conciliatory approach toward
Myanmar's
ruling military junta, which seized power in 1988. Maung argued that Burma could be moved towards democratization by working directly with the country's generals, rather than confronting them. He stated that Aung San Suu Kyi should accept a new constitution written by the military as a token of goodwill. From the 7th to 10th standards, he was selected as a
Luyaygyun (လူရည်ချွန်), a nationally recognized well-rounded student. Maung attended a regional college, where he majored in Biology, before he was admitted into medical school. He graduated from the
Institute of Medicine 1 in Rangoon (now Yangon) with a medical degree in 1987, after repeating his 2nd year. Maung did not ally himself with the National League for Democracy or its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. He did form alliances with other opposition figures, such as
Zarganar. Maung met with Aung San Suu Kyi in January 2011, shortly after her release from
house arrest. Maung left Burma for four months in 2004 to attend the
Yale World Fellows Program at
Yale University in the United States, focusing on
public policy. In 2006, Nay founded Myanmar Egress, a
civil society organizations with other intellectuals, which he hoped would thaw relations between the government and other pro-democracy activists. Nay hoped Myanmar Egress, which was headquartered in a hotel in
Yangon, to evolve into a Western-style economic and political
think tank. Under Nay, Myanmar Egress gave classes and seminars in business skills, economics, democracy, and
entrepreneurship. In 2008, Egress the relief effort in the aftermath of
Cyclone Nargis, earning accolades from international and foreign relief organizations. In March 2011,
Burmese President Thein Sein called for reforms and
good governance in his inauguration speech, leading to a
series of reforms throughout 2011 and 2012. Maung, who had long advocated a conciliatory tone towards the generals, saw his ideas gain new prominence during the reform period and opposition leaders gradually warmed to his ideas. The vice president of the
Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Maung Maung Lay, who represents business interests, told the
Wall Street Journal, "We thought that he was pro-government...{but} he seems to [have been] impartial" as reforms accelerated and progressed in Burma. == Death ==