Nay Shwe Thway Aung

Nay Shwe Thway Aung (နေရွှေသွေးအောင်; ; born 22 May 1991), also known as Phoe La Pyae (ဖိုးလပြည့်; ; ), is a Burmese public figure, business tycoon and musician.

He is the grandson of Senior General Than Shwe, a retired senior army general and former Prime Minister of Myanmar.

He has gained prominence for his involvement in various business ventures and has been associated with providing support to Myanmar's ruling regime and military government.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung was born on 22 May 1991 in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), as the only son of Nay Soe Maung, an army doctor, and his wife Kyi Kyi Shwe, the daughter of Than Shwe.

He attended high school at Practising School Yangon Institute of Education, and later enrolled in West Yangon Technological University.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung is recognized as a key figure connecting regime officials and business leaders.

He has faced allegations of directing military officers, who serve as his assistants, to engage in business conflicts.

Some high-ranking generals and prominent businessmen in Myanmar have advised caution to their children regarding potential conflicts with Nay Shwe Thway Aung.

He has been accused of leveraging his grandfather's influence to profit, assisting businesses in recovering unlawfully imported goods, including vehicles confiscated at different seaports.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung has been involved in multiple business disputes with the offspring of high-ranking generals, such as Aung Thet Mann and Toe Naing Mann, often emerging victorious.

Additionally he maintain close ties with notable figures like business tycoon Zaw Zaw.

Through these connections, Zaw Zaw has obtained concessions and import licenses, including those for car and motorcycle imports, as well as fuel distribution licenses.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung's interest in football led to his recruitment by Zaw Zaw for Delta United, a professional soccer club in the Myanmar Football National League.

Despite allegations, Nay Shwe Thway Aung's impact on the national team coaches allowed him to participate in an exhibition match attended by Japanese football star Hidetoshi Nakata in 2007.

Furthermore he is a member of the Lamborghini Club in Lion City.

Business sources in Yangon reported his acquisition of a new Mercedes-Benz from a warehouse owned by the military-controlled Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings.

He reportedly paid only 10 million kyat (US$11,600) for a luxury vehicle valued at least 200 million kyat ($230,000).

According to The Irrawaddy, Nay Shwe Thway Aung has faced scrutiny from military officers who question his high rank within Myanmar's military circles, despite lacking army service.

Some military elite expressed discontent over his front row presence beside his grandfather at official photoshoots.

Known for his close relationship with his grandfather Than Shwe, Nay Shwe Thway Aung frequently accompanies him on state visits and is featured in Myanmar's state-run media, appearing alongside his grandfather during state ceremonies and diplomatic tours across the country.

In October 2008, reports circulated that he utilized his influence to secure enrollment for his girlfriend, model Nay Chi Lin Let, at the Institute of Medicine.

In September 2010, he joined Than Shwe on a high-profile trip to China.

In 2010, Nay Shwe Thway Aung managed the Yadanabon Cyber City, Myanmar's Silicon Valley, and oversaw the government's Internet control center.

While initially believed to be in line for succession, poised to inherit leadership from his grandfather Than Shwe, Nay Shwe Thway Aung surprised observers on his 20th birthday by declaring, "I will not succeed my grandfather, Than Shwe."

In 2011, Than Shwe officially stepped down as head of state in favor of his chosen successor, Thein Sein, as President of Myanmar.

On October 4, 2014, he released a cover song of Enrique Iglesias's 'Escape', achieving over 1.1 million views.

On December 4, 2015, Nay Shwe Thway Aung and his grandfather, Than Shwe, met with Aung San Suu Kyi.

During the meeting, Nay Shwe Thway Aung pledged his support to Aung San Suu Kyi, expressing commitment to back her efforts for the country's development.

In a state-level meeting on October 22, 2016, Nay Shwe Thway Aung represented one of the top-listed taxpayers, engaging in discussions between State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and 158 influential tycoons.

Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Nay Shwe Thway Aung adopted a low profile and faced social boycotts, becoming a target of the social punishment movement due to his association with the former military family.

This led to a decline in popularity, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of fans he had before the coup.

As a devoted fan of Enrique Iglesias, Nay Shwe Thway Aung has created numerous music videos and performed cover songs dedicated to the renowned artist.

In 2017, following a hiatus from public life, he refuted these allegations on his Facebook account, attributing them to political motivations and characterizing them as untrue.

In his teenage years, Nay Shwe Thway Aung faced accusations of kidnapping actress Wutt Hmone Shwe Yi, reportedly holding her in his house for several days.

Another notable cover, 'Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)', was released on November 8, 2018, on his official Facebook page, known as 'Nay Shwe Thway Aung' '(The Explorer)', amassing over 1.9 million views, with one million views within 24 hours.

On December 27, 2018, he shared a cover of Enrique Iglesias's song 'Hero', receiving over 1.2 million views and positive reactions from his fans.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung blends Burmese lyrics with the original song, showcasing his diverse musical talent in pop, electronic, dance, and electronic dance music genres.

He invested substantial resources, including tens of thousands of dollars, in recreating Enrique Iglesias, even going to the extent of burning genuine hundred-dollar bills.

In 2019, Nay Shwe Thway Aung had a private meeting with Enrique Iglesias, and he also participated in the Miss Universe Myanmar 2019.

During his grandfather Than Shwe's tenure, Nay Shwe Thway Aung has involved in various incidents that garnered media attention.