MPs agree to discuss insolvency bill, enforcing section of the Oaths Act
By Aung Ye Thwin, Lu Maw (MNA)
THE third-day meeting of the 11th session of the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw was held yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw. The assembly held a Q&A session on starred questions, submitted the Myanmar Insolvency Bill to the Hluttaw, and deliberated on accepting a motion.
Q&A: Revenue office in Thantlang Tsp, MEB branch upgrade in Hopan Tsp
U Bwe Khein from Chin State constituency 3 raised a question asking whether there are plans to reopen the much-needed township Internal Revenue Development office in Thantlang Township, Chin State. Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance, U Maung Maung Win, replied to the question. He said the revenue office for Thantlang Tsp is currently not included in the organization chart of the Internal Revenue Department but will be included as a C-level township office when the organization chart is revised. For the moment, Thantlang Tsp’s revenue office will be temporarily placed in a rented office space and staffed with civil servants from the Chin State Internal Revenue Department, said the deputy minister.
U Sai San Aung from Shan State constituency 12 raised a question on whether the branch office of Myanmar Economic Bank (MEB) opened in Hopan Township, in Hopan District, Wa Self-administered Division, Shan State, will be upgraded into a township economic bank. Deputy Minister U Maung Maung Win replied that there are no plans to upgrade the MEB branch in Hopan Tsp as of yet. He said the Hopan branch currently handles around 23 monetary transactions and 9 cash withdrawals on a daily basis, and has 742 savings accounts. He said the MEB branch in Kunlong Tsp, about 13 miles from Hopan Tsp, has excellent roads and the workforce of the Hopan Tsp branch is able to handle the workload, hence there are no plans to upgrade the Hopan branch. He said they will continue monitoring the situation for a possible upgrade in the future if the workload were to increase.
Similarly, Dr. Mya Lay Sein, Deputy Minister for Health and Sports, replied to questions raised by Dr. Zaw Lin Tun from Mon State constituency 9, U Lal Min Htan from Chin State constituency 10, and U Pyu Lwin from Magway Region constituency 12.
Insolvency Bill put up for discussion
Justice U Mya Han of the Supreme Court of the Union introduced the Insolvency Bill to the assembly.
U Sai Tun Aung, member of the Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee, explained that his committee has discussed the bill in detail with experts and officials from relevant ministries, the Union Supreme Court, Central Bank of Myanmar, Myanmar Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Office of the Union Attorney General, and the Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission. Thus, he is submitting the bill for the Amyotha Hluttaw to give its approval, said U Sai Tun Aung.
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than then called for MPs interested in discussing the bill to enroll their names.
Agreement to discuss applying The Oaths Act
U Soe Moe of Ayeyawady Region constituency 1 tabled a motion calling for judges, plaintiffs and witnesses of a lawsuit to swear an oath in the court of law so as to ensure a fair and just trial. U Soe Moe explained that the present situation in the country requires judges to administer swearing an oath in the courtroom to ensure a lawsuit is handled with adherence to existing laws and to gain public trust. He said plaintiffs and witnesses at present are not seen to be taking the oath with consistency. U Soe Moe said, to ensure proper exercise of the rule of law, the witness, interpreter, or juror shall make and oath, unless they are a Hindu or Muhammadan, or has an objection to making an oath, as enacted in Section 6 of The Oaths Act. The motion was seconded by U Kyaw Tote of Mandalay Region constituency 7. The Speaker gathered the resolution of the Hluttaw, gained agreement to accept and discuss the motion, and then called for MPs interested in discussing the motion to enroll their names. The fourth-day meeting of the eleventh session of the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw will convene tomorrow. — (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
