 In 1947, after the Shan principalities agreed to become part of the Union of Burma, Sao Saimong had an administrative career in independent Burma and was Chief Education Officer for Shan and Kayah States.He was instrumental in the design of the revised script for Shan.Like most of the other former rulers of the Shan States, Sao Saimong was imprisoned when General Ne Win took power in 1962.