28 Aug
The 12th-day meeting of the 17th regular session of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw concluded yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.
Q&A Session
MP U Ye Htut from Sagaing Region constituency 5 asked whether there were plans to hire part-time staff working in government departments as full time staff. U Saw Valentine, member of the Union Civil Service Board, replied they work closely with Union-level ministries and institutions to convert part-time staff into full time staff according to their level of capability and job vacancies available.
MP U Hla Oo of Sagaing Region constituency 4 asked whether a budget proposal to construct a concrete culvert on the Pae Pyit Taw-ChaungU Nwe Kway road in ChaungU Township, Monywa District, in 2020-2021FY. Deputy Minister for Construction Dr Kyaw Lin replied the ChaungU culvert is a Class-B Level 2 designation and its budget proposal has been added to the 2020-2021FY.
MP U Kyaw Ni Naing of Shan State constituency 11 asked whether there were plans to install a modern urban water distribution system in Laukkai, Kokang Self-Administered Zone. Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw replied that there are no aquifers discovered in the area so far and they plan to conduct a field investigation of building dams on local water resources in October. He said they will discuss with JICA on including this under their list of operations. He said they will use the state budget if a relevant organization submits a proposal.
MP U Kyaw Thiha of Mandalay Region constituency 12 asked the progress on drafting a bylaw for the 2019 Myanmar Gemstone Law to which Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr Ye Myint Swe answered that they have submitted the draft bylaws to the the Security, Peace and Stability and the Rule of Law Working Committee and the Political and Security Department of the President’s Office. The bylaws can be enacted after an approval from the Union Government. MP U Kyi Win of Ayeyarwady Region constituency 12 asked whether there are plans to issue SMEs loans to 546 salt farmers in Labutta and Ngapudaw townships. Deputy Minister Dr Ye Myint Swe replied that the salt farmers can apply for loans from the COVID-19 Fund or MSMEs loans from banks with the proper loan application documents.
MP Dr Win Myint of Bago Region constituency 11 asked whether there were plans to construct a new one-storey RC building for the public branch high school in Tuumyaung village, Minhla Township. Deputy Minister for Education U Win Maw Tun replied they will include the budget proposal for a Type-C one-storey steel structure in the 2020-2021FY. MP Daw Htu May of Rakhine State constituency 11 asked whether authorities will construct a new dormitory to accommodate the number of students in the University of Computer Studies, Sittway. Deputy Minister U Win Maw Tun replied they will submit a budget proposal for the new dormitory once a suitable location of land has been acquired.
MP U Myint Naing of Rakhine State constituency 5 and MP U Tin Aung Tun of Magway Region constituency 5 debated a report on the motions tabled and questions raised from the 1st to the 16th regular session of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw. The report was submitted by the Amyotha Hluttaw Government’s Guarantees, Pledges and Undertakings Vetting Committee. Committee member U Pyu Lwin replied to MP’s debates and motioned for the report to be approved. The report was approved with no opposition from the assembly. U Hla Myint (a) U Hla Myint Than, Chairman of the Public Complaints Committee, motioned for the committee’s report to be approved. The report was approved with no opposition from the assembly.
Activities of past regular sessions
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than then read the performance of parliament during the 17th regular session from 13 July to 27 August 2020. MPs raised 82 oral questions and 127 written questions, sent the Bill of the Law on Public Procurement and Asset Disposal with amendments to the Pyithu Hluttaw during the 16th regular session, and resubmitting the Hluttaw representatives’ discussion on the medical equipment bill to the Bill Committee. The Amyotha Hluttaw began discussions on the Myanmar Health Assistant Council Bill and approved the bill with amendments made by the Pyithu Hluttaw. The Microfinance Bill and the Bill amending the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens were first discussed at the Pyithu Hluttaw first in the 16th regular session and then sent back with amendments to the Pyithu Hluttaw.
Tatmadaw Amyotha Hluttaw representative Lt-Col Aung Tun Lin had submitted a bill to amend the 1956 Defence Services Act. The Bill Committee read their report and sent the bill to the Pyithu Hluttaw who approved it with no amendments. The bill was enacted into law with Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No.12 and signed by the President earlier this year. MP U Kyaw Htwe of Yangon Region constituency 8, chairman of the Committee on Immigration and Myanmar Internal and Migrant Workers, submitted bills amending the bylaws on conservation of water resources and bodies of water to the Amyotha Hluttaw which sent them to the Pyithu Hluttaw with amendments.
The Committee on the Development of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries submitted their report on reducing negative effects of chemical residue on Myanmar’s agriculture which was approved by the Amyotha Hluttaw. The Committee on Immigration and Myanmar Internal and Migrant Workers submitted a report on their workings from 1 March 2018 to 13 July 2020. The various committees have held a combined 85 meetings.
The Speaker wished the MPs a safe return to their homes and hoped for them to continue serving the nation and their constituents to the best of their abilities and announced the 17th regular session of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw as successfully concluded.
Aung Ye Thwin (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
