8 June
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw concluded its 12th regular session yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw, with approving the two loan borrowing plans and signing as an observer in an MoU on establishing of tax administration mechanism of the Belt and Road Initiative.
A proposal submitted by the Union Government to borrow Euro 29.96 million loan from the Netherlands for a water supply project in Pyigyitagun Township, Mandalay Region, was approved, with 547 votes in favour, five against and one abstention.
Observer in MoU on establishment the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism
In the debate for signing as an observer in the Memorandum of Understanding-MoU on the Belt and Road initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism, U Win Maung of Magway Region constituency 6 said the issues of internal peace, lack of technology, tight budget and land confiscation in Myanmar should be taken into consideration if the country participates in the initiative.
Dr. Khun Win Thaung of Kachin State constituency 11 said he hoped that the participation in the mechanism can promote the tax management capacity of Myanmar through working together with other countries included in the project.
Participation in the Belt and Road project can bring opportunities for benefits of the country and also bring challengers related with security as well, he added.
Just signing as an observer in the MoU was not enough and more efforts should be made to balance the weaknesses of both sides, said Dr. Khun Win Thaung.
Another ten representatives of Hluttaw also took part in the debate.
Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win sought the approval from the Hluttaw for signing as an observer in the mechanism, saying that the country would gain international knowledge on tax administration through the participation in the project.
The proposal was approved by the Hluttaw.
Borrowing US$100 million from World Bank’s IDA for cash assistance to pregnant women and children under two
Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung and Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win took part in the debate for acquiring the $100 million loan from the World Bank’s IDA for providing cash assistance to pregnant women and children under two year.
Deputy Minister U Soe Aung said the cash assistance programme would be carried out in Ayeyawady Region and Shan State in accordance with the population health survey 2015-2016 aiming at providing adequate nutrition of the pregnant women and children.
The programme will be expanded to Kachin State, Mon State and Sagaing Region in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, Mandalay Region and Magway Region in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Taninthayi Region in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, according to the deputy minister.
The proposal was approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, with 302 votes in favour, 167 against and one abstention.
Afterwards, Dr. Myat Nyana Soe, Secretary of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Bill Committee, sought the approval for the controversial Child Rights Bill between the two Hluttaws paragraph by paragraph.
The 12 regular session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw came to an end with concluding remarks by Speaker U T Khun Myat.
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw held 14 meetings during the period of the 12th regular session, approved seven laws and three bills.
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw also completed seven agreements, six foreign loans programmes and three reports including the anniversary work report of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Besides, the Hluttaw also continued the process amending the 2008 Constitution.—Aung Ye Thwin, Aye Aye Than (MNA) (Translated by Kyaw Zin Lin)
