By Aye Aye Thant (MNA)
The 19th-day meeting of the eleventh regular session of the Second Pyithu Hluttaw was held at the Pyithu Hluttaw meeting hall of the Hluttaw Building in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
At the meeting Hluttaw agree to form a committee and designated the formation, duty, responsibilities, rights and terms of the committee. A question and answer session, discussions on a bill and a motion were also made.
Formation of Women and Children’s Rights Committee
As a first agenda of the day Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat obtained the consensus of the Hluttaw on forming Women and Children’s Rights Committee, the committee’s duty, responsibilities, rights and terms. Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker then announced the committee to be formed with Dr. Khin Soe Soe Kyi of Pyay constituency as chairperson, Dr Daw Kyi Moh Moh Lwin of Singaing constituency as secretary, U Win Naing of Mogaung constituency, Daw Nan Than Than Lwin of Hpa-an constituency, Daw Wint Wa Tun of Shadaw constituency, Daw Ni Shwe Hlwan of Thantlang constituency, Dr. Daw A Zin Lat of Shwebo constituency, Daw Khin Sandi of Launglon constituency, Daw Mi Kun Chan of Paung constituency, Daw Yin Min Hlaing of Gangaw constituency, U Naing Htoo Aung of Natogyi constituency, Daw Nan Khin Saw of Kunhing constituency, Daw Khin Saw Wai of Yathedaung constituency, Dr. Daw Shwe Pon of Bago constituency and Tatmadaw representative Col. Myint Cho as members and also announced the duties, responsibilities, rights and terms of the committee.
Question and answer session
U Tin Aye of Metmung constituency posed the first question of the day and asked if there was a plan to construct a hydro-power station on Namtnan creek in Metmung Township. Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr. Tun Naing said the ministry raised the matter with Shan State Government and received a reply that the arrangements are underway to construct the station using Border Affairs Ministry union fund, electricity distribution state fund and rural development department’s state fund in fiscal year 2019-2020.
Dr. Saw Naing of South Okkalapa constituency then asked for arrangements made to start providing treatment services at a new four-story ward of South Okkalapa Women and Children Hospital. Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe replied that a total of Ks 3,050 million had been allocated for the construction of the new four-story ward and as of February, 70 percent of the construction had been completed. The initial plan requires a total funding of Ks 3,616.142 million and the funding shortfall of Ks 566.142 million will be requested from fiscal year 2018-2019 additional fund. If fund is obtained the construction will be completed before the end of this year but if funding is not obtained it will be requested from fiscal year 2018-2019 capital fund explained the Union Minister.
Questions raised by U Zone Teint of Chipwe constituency, U Tun Tun of Pwintbyu constituency, U Kyaw Htay of Leshi constituency, U Myint Oo of Thanatpin constituency and Dr. Than Aung Soe of Minhla constituency were also answered by Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe and Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr. Tun Naing.
Discussion and decision on Bill to amend Bar Council Act
Following the question and answer session a bill to amend Bar Council Act approved and sent with amendments by Amyotha Hluttaw was discussed on whether amendments should be in English or Myanmar. Bill Committee member U Zaw Win discussed on the amendments to be in English while Daw Khin Moht Moht Aung of Latha constituency and U Saw Thalay Saw of Shwegyin constituency discussed on the amendments to be in Myanmar.
When the matter was put to a vote the Hluttaw voted 213 for, 137 against and 1 abstaining for the amendments to be in English and Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker made an announcement accordingly of the Hluttaw’s decision.
This was followed with the Hluttaw agreeing to approve the bill according to 14 amendments made by the Bill Committee and without agreeing to approve the bill according to amendments approved by the Amyotha Hluttaw.
Finally Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker obtained the Hluttaw’s consensus on approving the entire bill to amend Bar Council Act according to amended clauses and sub-clauses. As there were no objection an announcement was made of approving the bill.
Hluttaw discuss motion on MOEE and put it on record
Afterwards a motion for Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) to establish an electricity distribution agreement with public companies so that the initial investment burden is not passed on to the people tabled by U Nyan Hein of Thanbyuzayat constituency was discussed by U Win Myint Aung of Tabayin constituency, U Tha Aung of Myothit constituency, U Kyaw Aung Lwin of Sedoktara constituency and Daw Aye Mya Mya Myo of Kyauktan constituency.
Responding to the discussions Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr. Tun Naing explained about the high investment and high technologies for electricity distribution that would drove up the costs of electricity to the people. This would increase the present problems faced by many folds and thus much thought need to be made toward motion proposed by the motion proposer. As the ministry also had plans to change the way it is conducting electricity distribution it would not require village electrification committees and public companies and people in villages will be able obtain electricity at the same rate as people in urban areas. While giving due recognition to the good intention of the motion proposer, the motion is recommended to be put on record said the Deputy Minister.
As the motion proposer also consented to put the motion on record and there was no objection from the Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker announced the motion to be put on record.
The 20th-day meeting of the eleventh regular session of the Second Pyithu Hluttaw will be held on 4 March it is learnt.
