By Aye Aye Thant (MNA)
A NINTH-DAY meeting of second Pyithu Hluttaw’s eleventh regular session was held at Pyithu Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning where a motion tabled to review permitted investment on state owned properties and business was accepted.
Question and answer session In the question and answer session at the start of the meeting U Lwin Ko Latt of Thanlyin constituency asked if there are any plan to provide special exemptions to foreign investors to invest in Kayah and Chin states where there were no foreign investment. Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Set Aung referred to Myanmar Investment Law and a notification made by Myanmar Investment Commission and said income tax exemption is granted for seven years from the start of commercial operation to investments made in all townships of Kayah and Chin states. For regions that are partly developed, income tax exemption is for five years only and for developed regions, it is for three years only, said the Deputy Minister.
There were some studies and submissions made by both foreign and local investors to invest in Kayah State and an investment Pyithu Hluttaw to review permitted investment on state owned properties, businesses fair for Chin State will be held in March 2019. Through conducting such investment fairs and forums, investors will be invited and attracted. A report on investment opportunities in Kayah State was published in March 2018 and was hosted in Myanmar Investment Commission website, said the Deputy Minister.
Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Nyi Tun responded to a question raised by U Khin Zaw of Kawthoung constituency on a plan to expand the parking station for commercial vehicles in Kawthoung Township and said there isn’t adequate space for township municipal to expand the parking station so there is no plan to expand it. However, to meet the growing number of commercial vehicles, a meeting with private business persons is planned on constructing a parking station, for commercial vehicles said the Nay Pyi Taw Council member.
Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Nyi Tun also responded to a recommendation made by Dr. U Saw Naing of South Okkalapa constituency on permitting an opening of a car sale centre at a small car park station 2 on the junction of Yadana Street and Thumingalar Street in South Okkalapa Township. He explained that the two small car park stations with playgrounds were constructed on former playgrounds to ease traffic congestion in the area while car sales centers were also being opened in Thanthumar and Hline in Yangon City Development Committee lands.
The State had already decided that it is not appropriate to open more car sales centers and car importers are to have their own show rooms, there is no plan to make the small car park station 2 into a car sales center and it will remain as a small car park station said the Nay Pyi Taw Council member. Questions raised by Dr. U San Shwe Win of Yekyi constituency, Dr. Daw Thet Thet Khaing of Dagon constituency, Daw Aye Aye Mu @ Daw Shar Mee of Kalay constituency and U Sai Oo Kham of Hsenwi constituency were also answered by Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Nyi Tun and Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win.
Motion on reviewing permitted investment on state owned properties and business Following the question and answer session Daw Khin San Hlaing of Pale constituency tabled a motion urging the Union Government to review permitted investment on state owned lands, buildings and businesses and take effective action including rescinding the investment permit if an investment is not in accordance to the pledges made and to implement new projects that are beneficial to the citizens, people in the region and businesses and make best uses of state-owned assets. She explained that many investors obtained the permission of Myanmar Investment Commission, Union ministerial departments and state/region government to invest in state-owned lands, buildings and businesses with many investment pledges but after the properties were transferred to them, does not implement anything or act like implementing by doing a little and then completely stopping the work.
Many Hluttaw representatives including the proposer of this motion had repeatedly and frequently raised questions on such matters but there were no detail or exact answers and there no policy that came about.
As such the motion is tabled so that the legislative pillar, our Hluttaw, could decide and set up policy. Only then can there be true investment can come in creating economic development for the country and create job opportunities for the people.
Daw Yin Min Hlaing of Gangaw constituency supported the motion. Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat then announced the Hluttaw’s acceptance of the motion after the decision of Hluttaw was obtain and announced further for Hluttaw representatives who want to discuss the motion to register their names.
Hluttaw approves Boundary Measurement and Demarcation Bill Next, Bill Committee member U Sai Tun Aye explained about amendment motions tabled for Boundary Measurement and Demarcation Bill returned by Amyotha Hluttaw with amendments and tabled a motion on 32 agreeable points and 36 disagreeable points. Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker obtained the decision of the Hluttaw and on those points and announced the Hluttaw’s agreement.
Afterwards Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker obtained the decision of the Hluttaw to approve the entire bill as per amended clauses and sub-clauses and announced the Hluttaw’s approval. The tenth-day meeting of the eleventh regular session of the Second Pyithu Hluttaw will be held on 8 February. (Translated by Zaw Min)
