By Aung Ye Thwin
The tenth-day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s eleventh regular session was held yesterday morning at the Amyotha Hluttaw meeting hall. Questions raised were answered and a discussion on a motion started in the ninth-day meeting was continued and then decided in the day’s meeting.
Question and answer session
In the question and answer session Tatmadaw representatives Maj. Zawunna asked about works conducted by Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Soe Win explained that MIC had permitted four basic education high school level private schools and four higher education level private schools teaching under international curriculum. These are providing education service under the notification of MIC and once the private education law is enacted, these education services will have to continue providing their services in accordance to that law said the Deputy Minister.
As for the Monywa cotton mill, Thein Min Industry Group Co., Ltd. proposed through Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation a long term lease of the mill to produce cotton blankets and mattresses and MIC Permission was granted on 24 March 2016.
After an urgent motion to suspend the works of Thein Min Industry Group Co., Ltd. was tabled at Sagaing Region Hluttaw, a special field inspection group was formed with officials from Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Planning and Finance, MIC and Sagaing Region Hluttaw. The special field inspection group inspected the works at the cotton mill on 16 November 2017.
Based on the report of the special field inspection group, MIC meeting 17/2017 held on 22 December 2017 decided to renegotiate leasing rates and to sign a separate agreement. The meeting decided the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to conduct this matter and then report back to the economic committee.
Accordingly Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is drafting the lease agreement with new leasing rates and once the amendment agreement (draft) is completed, the comments of the MIC and Union Attorney General Office will be obtained and then submit to Unin economic committee said the Deputy Minister.
Similarly questions raised by U Myint Naing of Rakhine State constituency 5 and U Soe Win of Rakhine State constituency 12 were also answered by Deputy Minister for Office of the Union Government U Tin Myint.
Hluttaw continue discussion and decide a motion to take precise and solemn oath in court
After the question and answer session Hluttaw representatives discussed a motion by U Soe Moe of Ayeyawady Region constituency 1 for judges, plaintiffs, accused and witnesses to take a precise and solemn oath in court of justice to make the judiciary truthful and trustworthy for the people.
U Hla San of Magway Region constituency 1, U Kyaw Kyaw Win of Rakhine State constituency 8, U Hla Oo of Sagaing Region constituency 4, Daw Nwe Nwe Aung of Mon State constituency 2, U Kyaw Kyaw of Rakhine State constituency 4, U Kyaw Toke of Mandalay Region constituency 7 and Daw Ei Ei Pyone of Ayeyawady Region constituency 8 discussed the motion.
In response to the discussions of the Hluttaw representatives Justice of the Supreme Court of the Union U Myo Tint said that now is the time when the Union is practicing market economy for socio economic development and arrangement were being made for free trade. Necessary trade laws were being drawn up and enacted for international investments and at such time a motion for judges to take daily oaths may raise the trust of the people but would reduce the image of the judges who are deciding the trade laws and there is no such precedence of daily oath taking internationally. In view of this the motion should only be kept on record said the Justice of the Supreme Court of the Union.
However, the motion proposer U Soe Moe wished for the Hluttaw to approve the motion and Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than obtained the decision of the Hluttaw. As there were 165 for, 9 against and 3 abstaining, the Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker announced the Hluttaw’s approval of the motion.
The eleventh-day meeting of the eleventh regular session of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw will be held on 13 February.
(Translated by Zaw Min)
