First meeting of 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw’s 11th regular session begins

The first meeting of the second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 11th regular session was held yesterday at the Amyotha Hluttaw meeting hall, where Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than delivered the welcoming message and swore in new representatives.

During the meeting, asterisk-marked questions were asked and answered, and a report was read.

Swearing-in of new Tatmadaw Hluttaw representatives

New Tatmadaw Hluttaw representatives were sworn in before the Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker, Mahn Win Khaing Than, and signed the swearing-in the oath of office.

Welcoming speech and briefing by Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker

In his welcoming speech, the Speaker said, he believed that all the Amyotha Hluttaw representatives had conducted their field studies in order to listen to the voices of the difficulties, desires, wants and requirements of the regional development in their respective constituencies. In order to fulfill the requirements of the people, it was also needed to raise questions, put forward motions and make laws in accordance with their respective committee-wise procedures. In doing so, the system of separation of power has divided the tasks of the state into three powers; legislative, executive and judicial while carrying out these tasks in accordance with the set laws, rules, regulations and procedures.

Then Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than wished all the Hluttaw representatives in good health, wealth and prosperity so that they could serve the interests of their constituencies, people and the country.

Q & A Session

In the question-and-answer session that followed, asterisk-marked questions raised by U Win Maung of Magway Region constituency 6, U Kyaw Kyaw of Rakhine State constituency 4, U Ye Myint Soe of Yangon Region constituency 7, U Pyu Lwin of Magway Region constituency 12, U Saw Sein Tun of Kayah State constituency 4 were answered by Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr. Tun Naing and Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin.

Road upgrading projects

Afterwards, U Win Maung of Magway Region constituency 6 asked if the Union Government plans to implement the rural road upgrading projects in Salin Township, Magway Region, and which would be commenced from 2019-2020 FY to 2021-2022 FY.

Strategy for rural road development 2030

To this query, Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin replied that the Ministry of Construction has set up a strategy for rural road development 2030, which aims at upgrading a total of 81 streets that covered 263 miles and 5 furlongs long, and that can be used for the whole year, moreover efforts would be made to complete the number one priority road which aimed at completing in the tenure of the present government. The Ministry of Construction had planned to complete the number two priority road in the 2024-2025 FY; the number three priority road from 2025-2026 FY to 2030-2031 FY, according to the strategy for rural road development 2030.

The construction of 20-mile-long earthen road would be conducted in 2018-2019, and plans are under way to upgrade the earthen road into a 16-mile long rural laterite one, the gravel road into a 2-mile-long tarred road in Salin Township, Magway Region. Plans are under way to upgrade the earthen road into laterite road for 15 miles, laterte road to gravel road for 7 miles, earthen road to concrete road for 3 miles with the use of the Union Fund from 2019-2020 FY to 2021-2022 FY.

Moreover the Ministry of Construction has planned to upgrade earthen road into laterite road for 26 miles, earthen road into concrete road for 2 miles, and rough road into tarred road for 29 miles with the use the Region Government Fund. As for the Ministry of Construction, master plans are being laid down to upgrade the rest roads in the 2029-2030 FY.

The road upgrading projects

U Kyaw Kyaw of Rakhien State constituency 4 asked the Union Government if it plans to carry out the road upgrading projects for Ppinyin-Nantat @ Partaw Inter-village road, MyaukU Township, Rakhine State.

Union Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin replied that the construction project would be carried out, using the allotment of the Rakhine State government’s fund in the 2019-2020 FY.

Similarly, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr. Tun Naing and Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin replied the queries raised by U Ye Myint Soe of Yangon Region constituency 7, U Pyu Lwin of Magway Region constituency 12 and U Saw Sein Tun of Kayah State constituency 4.

The Trademark Bill

Next Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than obtained the decision of the Hluttaw on the amending Trademark Bill submitted by the Pyithu Hluttaw to be approved. After obtaining the decision of the Hluttaw, the Speaker announced the approval of the Hluttaw.

Industrial design bill

Then Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than obtained the decision of the Hluttaw on the Industrial design bill which was submitted by the Pyithu Hluttaw with amendments to be approved. After obtaining the decision of the Hluttaw, the Speaker announced that the Hluttaw’s approval.

The Children’s rights bill

Following this, Member of the Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee U Thein Lwin read out the Children’s rights bill submitted by the Pyithu Hluttaw with amendments.
Then, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker asked the Hluttaw representatives who wanted to discuss the bill to enroll their names.

The second day of the second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 11th regular session will continue on 22 January.— (Translated by 
Win Ko Ko Aung)