28 Aug
Pyithu Hluttaw concluded its 17th regular session yesterday after the 12th day meeting with asterisk questions and discussions about a motion.
MP Daw Khin Than Nu from Mindon constituency asked about family registration (Form 66/6) for children who were born of Myanmar migrant workers in foreign countries. Deputy Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Myint Kyaing said the application for birth reports is recorded at the Myanmar embassies and consulates of respective countries, and the family registration can be made by the parents or father or mother in bringing the child with them when they legally come back the country. The respective immigration offices also handle the application of parents or guardians when they live back in home country for family registration of the children who were born of Myanmar citizen parents living abroad, or father/mother with foreign spouse.
The deputy minister also explained that the children born of legal Myanmar migrant workers abroad, or the children born of Myanmar migrant workers working in foreign countries under any circumstances will be obtained family registration in accordance with the existing rules and regulations. MP U Wun Hla from Nanyun constituency asked about the return of original name of village by the consent of local people in 16 villages in his constituency.
Deputy Minister for the Office of the Union Government U Tin Myint replied that the ministry has instructed local authorities to prepare for the cases to return the original name of the villages at the request of local people from 14 villages in 8 village-tracts in line with Article 54 of the Constitution, and to hold coordination meetings with the locals in this process. MP Dr Khin Soe Soe Kyi from Pyay constituency asked about upgrade of rural health centre in Hmaw Zar village. Deputy Minister for Health and Sports Dr Mya Lay Sein replied that it will be implemented after official land documents have been approved as the health centre will benefit to 12,745 persons from 31,143 houses in 18 villages.
MP U Thaung Aye from Pyawbwe constituency asked for appointment of a doctor for the employees of No.8 Garment Factory in his constituency. It was replied by Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry Dr Min Ye Paing Hein. MP Daw Khin Hnin Thit from Padaung constituency asked for expanding lines of demarcation into original area of religious land at Phoe Oo Mountain pagoda in Ywatharyar village-tract of her constituency, and Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Kyi Min replied it. MP U Lagan Zal Gyone from Waingmaw constituency asked for getting back the cemetery land into the state-owned property and MP U Thein Tan from Hlegu constituency about amendment of Ward and Village Tract Administration Law, and it was replied by Deputy Minister U Tin Myint.
MP Daw Khin Saw Wai from Yathedaung constituency asked for supplies of specialists and medical equipment for treatment of eye, heart and cancer diseases at the 500-bed General Hospital in Sittway Township. MP U Aung Than Sein from Khamti constituency about legal actions against the company for failing to construct rural clinic building and staff houses and against the management groups of the township for their approval on completion of the project although it was finished just 50 per cent, and the MP also called for accomplishment of this project in 2019-2020FY. Dr Than Aung Soe from Min Hla constituency asked for drawing a national strategic plan for the ‘One Health’ project that will link human and animal health with the environmental conservation. MP U Ar Moe Si from Khaunglanphu constituency asked about the wrong names mentioned in its reply to the question about opening a necessary rural clinic in his constituency and the establishments of rural health centres in five villages. Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein replied the questions.
MP Dr Maung Thin from Meikhtila constituency tabled a motion, calling for negotiations of the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 or relevant ministries with the micro-finance companies of exemption or 50 per cent reduction of interest on their loans taken from these financial firms as the borrowers are suffering serious impacts of COVID-19 on the employments and economy of the country. The 6 MPs discussed the motion. Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win discussed the international small-scaled financial institutions helped their clients with delay in repayment with financial assistance of their governments, the suspension of repayment period from the financial firms to the banks, relaxing the rules in loan loss provision and developing more opportunities for the micro-finance institutions to get more loans. However, the policy makers or supervisors did not remove or cut the interest in other countries because policies of exemption or cutting the interest will impact the small financial institutions. The deputy minister added such policy would create doubt from local and foreign investors and loan organizations on the practices of rules and regulations in Myanmar, as well as damaging to the mutual trust among the financial firms and the members.
Moreover, the government should not interfere in the loan contracts and policies of lending firms and their clients as the micro-finance businesses are independent businesses and they are providing financial services in their own capitals for low-income people and small-scaled businesses. And that clearance of loan or reduction of interest is directly concerned with the decision of these firms, and the government has directed the microfinance businesses to negotiate with their members through facilitating associations. He added that the ministry will continue discussions with the small financial businesses in this sector, and asked to put the motion into record. There were 220 votes for and 125 against the motion and it was just taken for the record.
During the 17th regular session, the Pyithu Hluttaw raised 107 asterisk questions and 338 ordinary questions, tabled 13 motions including the important one. A total of 5 motions were approved and 3 were recorded, while 1 motion was turned down without discussion. There were 4 motions which could not be discussed. Out of 20 bills for discussions, only 8 bills were approved. In his concluding remark, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat said the voting of eligible voters could strengthen the democracy foundation of the country. He also advised the Hluttaw representatives to contest the elections in line with the electoral laws.
Aye Aye Thant (MNA) (Translated by Aung Khin)
