30 April
By Shin Min
Photo: Aye Than
“We are working for that of the unity of all the nationalities for the emergence of genuine democratic federal union; that of the national reconciliation; that of the participation of all with the people’s centreed concept in quest of peace through the 21st century Panlong Conference.” : Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker
“People’s Voice – – – Hluttaw’s Voice” is the strong motto and that the Amyotha Hluttaw listened to the people’s voice and implemented the hope and wishes of the people. It is moving ahead successfully for four years out of five years tenure of Second Amyotha Hluttaw.
Second Amyotha Hluttaw first regular session convened on 3 February 2016 and that the 15th regular session of the second Amyotha Hluttaw convened from 27 January 2020 to 25 March 2020.
During the four years period, the Amyotha Hluttaw has implemented the tasks such as that of arranging and putting up the proposals and the queries at the desire and hope of the people; that of the balancing of motion over the administrative power and the judicial power; that of the annulling, amending and enacting laws that are not representing the people and not in conformity with the modern times.
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than said, “On the journey of the Second Hluttaws towards the democratic nation that begins on 3 February 2016, the legislative pillar is under reform process with the participation of the standing committees, the adhoc committees, the Hluttaw Representatives of various constituencies taking up the laws and carried out amendment, addition, revoke, and enacted into new, while listening to the voices of the people.”
In the course of the fourth-year performances, the Amyotha Hluttaw heard (439) questions with asterisks; (781) questions without asterisks; totalling (1220) questions. Seven Hluttaw Representatives have submitted (12) proposals and that (10) proposals have been accepted while one proposal was put on record and one proposal has not been approved.
During the four years period of the Amyotha Hluttaw, the Speaker said, “Out of (31) proposals, (21) proposals have been approved and (5) proposals have been put on records. Total of (1,621) questions with asterisks and (2,145) questions without asterisks have been raised, which were responded with oral explanations as well as in written clarifications from the relevant ministries by union level persons.”
At the Amyotha Hluttaw sessions that of the relevant speeches of the President and messages were put on records; that of the other relevant messages were also put on records; that of the draft bills were submitted, discussed, and made decision; that of the relevant points with regards to the tasks of the Amyotha Hluttaw mentioned in the Constitution have been taken up for discussions and made decisions; and that of the reports being submitted to the Amyotha Hluttaw were taken up for discussions, decision, put up for raising questions and seeking clarifications.
Aims and aspiration of the Amyotha Hluttaw are to endeavour for the rule of law and stability; and that of to create atmosphere with liberty, equality and justice; that of to convene Amyotha Hluttaw sessions successfully; that of to build capacity of the Hluttaw Representatives and the Hluttaw staff members; and that of cooperation and coordination among the Union level entities.
Speaker said, “We are working for that of the unity of all the nationalities for the emergence of genuine democratic federal union; that of the national reconciliation; that of the participation of all with the people’s centered concept in quest of peace through the 21st century Panlong Conference.”
The tasks of the Amyotha Hluttaw include that of scrutiny of the budgets of the central level organizations, the ministerial level entities; that of the implementation of the development tasks of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; that of the arrangement of workshops with relevant ministries; that of the cooperation among the relevant committees with the participation of domestic and foreign organizations; that of the broader participation of Amyotha Hluttaw representatives in the endeavor for the amendment of the Constitution (2008) for the emergence of a constitution in conformity with the modern times and in line with the democratic norm and standard, the Speaker explained.
Amyotha Hluttaw has extended its links with that of the other parliaments in the international sphere for friendly cooperation; that of carrying out the exchange of information on the Hluttaw matters and sharing awareness with the people and the students and the local organizations; and that of the invitation to organizations of domestic and foreign countries to visit Amyotha Hluttaw establishment.
With a view to enhance capacity building of the Hluttaw Representatives and the Hluttaw Staff members, they are being sent to training courses and various workshops.
Complaint letters from the public sent direct to the Hluttaw Speaker have been taken up seriously on their difficulties and loss, and loop up the matters with the relevant ministries and departments in addressing the problem to ease the suffering of the victims.
Speaker received the visiting state leaders, the foreign ambassadors, the delegations from foreign countries for (20) occasions and discussed for enhancing bilateral friendly relations , the strengthening of cooperation with different parliaments, the strengthening of the Amyotha Hluttaw, and for the capacity building of the Hluttaw Representatives, and that of receiving the domestic organizations and social organizations.
During the recess of the Hluttaw sessions, the Speaker visited the states / regions and met the voters and taken up discussion on the development tasks for consideration for a total of (14) occasions.
With a view to keep the legislative tasks and the three pillars to be in balanced motion, four Standing Committees and (13) Adhoc Affairs Committees have been formed , and that the Amyotha Hluttaw members are fulfilling the desire of the people in socio-economic development sector.
Bill Committee
Out of the (20) draft bills being discussed at the Amyotha Hluttaw, one bill has been forward to the Pyithu Hluttaw, and that (11) draft bills are in process at the Amyotha Hluttaw , and that (8) draft bills have been take up by the bill committee.
A total of (10) draft bills that started discussions at the Pyithu Hluttaw have sent to Amyotha Hluttaw. Among the (10) draft bills, (5) bill have been enacted and (5) draft bills have been sent back to the Pyithu Hluttaw.
A total of (18) draft bills that started at the Amyotha Hluttaw, and (11) bills that started from the Pyithu Hluttaw, and the (6) draft bills that started from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw have been considered, and that all (35) bills have been enacted.
Until 31 January 2020, total of (87) meetings have been realized at the Committee.
Public Accounts Committee
During one year period, the committee has convened (15) meetings, the case xhearing meeting for once, and that the report submission to Hluttaw has taken place for once.
During one year period, the expenses spent and incurred by the Central Institute of Civil Service of Myanmar while working in collaboration with a Foreign University and other foreign colleges have taken up by this committee for necessary scrutiny. They have had discussion with the officials of the Union Auditor-General Office over the detailed budget headings. Moreover, the team headed by the Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw also met with other Hluttaw Representatives of relevant Committees and discussed over the matter.
Hluttaw Privileges Committee
The committee checked and scrutinized the identity of regular Hluttaw Representatives, and also supervised the ethical traits and disciplines. The Committee ensured their rights and privileges of the Hluttaw Representative during one year time.
This Committee undertakes the tasks with regards to the Hluttaw Laws and By-laws to be disseminated among the public. Moreover, the Committee disseminates and spread knowledge to the public on the three main duties of the Hluttaw Representatives such as the legislative duty, the duty to supervise the government, and the duty to represent the public.
The Committee conducted coordination meetings for (6) events; held meeting twice with the outside organizations; handled and scrutinized the complaint letter in connection with the (4) Hluttaw Representatives; and submitted report to the Hluttaw on two occasions during-fourth-year period.
Government’s Guarantees, Pledges and Undertaking Vetting Committee
The Committee scrutinized over the work progress given by the Union level organization whether they have fulfilled the guarantees, pledges and undertaken tasks in time or not. During the fourth-year period, the Committee handled (654) pledges given by Union level organizations, the Union level ministries; and the state / region governments. The Committee handled (10) approved proposals.
With regard to the guarantees, the pledges, and the undertakings , the Committee invited the relevant ministries / organizations in ascertaining that their commitments are fulfilled. The work progress is being checked through field trips on ground. The Committee tries to keep the balancing acts between the government and the Hluttaws.
The Committee convened many meetings in connection with the main tasks.
International Relations, Parliamentary Friendships and Cooperation Committee
The Committee called (19) meetings; and that the meeting with the relevant ministry for once; convening of a debate for once; and hosting foreign delegations for (4) events.
Non-governmental Organizations and International Non-governmental Organizations Committee
The Committee convened that of (5) coordination meetings; that of meeting with relevant ministries for (6) events; that of meetings with INGOs for (4) events; that of meeting with the Earth System Pty. Ltd. of Australia for once; totaling (16) events of meetings.
Sports, Health and Culture Committee
The Committee has made field study trips on cancer research at the hospitals namely Mandalay, Taunggyi, Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and North Okkalapa.
The Committee convened many meetings with domestic organizations and the international organizations, and it also organized workshops and debates.
Committee for Ethnic Affairs
The Committee made field trips to Loikaw and Demawso in Kayah State and met and discussed with ethnic nationalities in the cultural and ethnic language domain, and fulfilled their requirements.
The Committee convened many meetings during the fourth-year period.
Farmers’ Affairs Committee
The Committee has undertaken that of (22) meetings; that of (4) meetings with relevant ministries; that of (2) meetings with international organizations; that of (6) meetings with domestic organizations; and that of (2) debates; and that of submitting reports twice to the Hluttaw.
Committee for Women’s and Children’s Rights
The Committee convened total of (35) meetings during fourth-year period.
Committee for the Enhancement of Education
The Committee convened total of (43) meetings during one year period.
Most salient performance of the Committee was the compilation of a research paper with the title, “Curriculum designing, pragmatic teaching and evaluation over the challenges in the economic sphere in our society”.
Committee on Immigration and Myanmar Internal and Migrant Workers
The Committee successfully intervened and resolved in the workers dispute occurred at Number (11) Garment Factory (Pakokku) in Magway Region where (37) workers had been terminated from their jobs. The Committee had negotiated with the employers and the workers, and succeeded in the signing of an MoU and settled the matter.
Moreover, the Committee had successfully endeavored in the task to enact the Law Amending the Dispute Resolution of Workers. It was enacted on 3 June 2019 vide Law Number (17) at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.
The Committee convened (44) meetings, and that one field trip, one event of case hearing, and one submission of report to the Hluttaw.
Committee on the Human Rights, Democracy and Basic Rights of the Citizens
The Committee have visited labor worksites of rock extractions attached to prisons at Htone Bo (1), Htone Bo (2), and Ta Mar Taing (Women) and also to Mandalay Central Prison. The Committee held discussions with the authorities and fulfilled the needs of the inmates in the context of basic human rights entitlements.
The Committee also visited to Pyapon Township in Pyapon District of Ayeyawady Region and inspected the fisheries businesses in connection with the workers working on worst condition of fishing rafts in the sea. The Committee provided necessary assistances for the workers. The Committee also visited fisheries clusters in Kawthoung Township and Bokepyin Township, and provided necessary assistances.
The Committee convened (26) meeting, and handled (162) complaint letters and resolved most of the cases.
Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
The Committee convened (40) meetings, and visited (2) site visits under the arrangements of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). It conducted survey, compiled data and information and produced a report entitled “A Survey for the review over the existing practice of the people with regards to 2019 Myanma Gems and Jewelry”.
Public Complaints Committee
The Committee received (1,487) complaint letters and that necessary steps were taken over the cases. In this connection, the Committee have conducted such as that of (4) visits for the (6) case files; that of one event for case hearing; that of referral to other organizations on (46) cases; that of referral to relevant ministries on (138) cases; that of referral to states / regions on (338) cases; that of meeting with foreign organization on one event; that of referral to Central Committee for Scrutiny on confiscated land and re-distribution to farmers with (225) land cases; that of work coordination meeting for (18) events; that of reply and response to relevant persons with (349) letters; and that of submitting reports to Hluttaw on two events.
Committee on the Development of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries
The Committee, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), had conducted a survey and investigation with the intent to reduce the negative side effects of chemical residues permeated from the fertilizers and pesticides being used in the agricultural sector in Myanmar.
Moreover, the Committee had intervened in the dispute between the group of (56) cultivators of Min Mon Tan Village Track in Tatkone Township near Nay Pyi Taw and the Myanmar Agri Food Company over the vegetable cultivation of Japanese spinach, where the cultivators had suffered loss in cultivation. The Committee was successful in solving the dispute.
Committee on Construction, Industry, Electricity and Energy
The Committee convened a certain numbers of meeting and handled (18) complaint letters.
The performances of the Amyotha Hluttaw included that of the compilation and distribution of (2,050) short research papers for the study and reading of Hluttaw Representatives; that of providing to Hluttaw Representatives with clarification and explanation of (341) research related questions; that of entertaining and providing services to the visiting foreign delegations to Amyotha Hluttaw; that of providing service to the library with necessary information and materials for the advantage of the Hluttaw Representatives and the staff members. Website of the Amyotha Hluttaw was being installed on 12 February 2015, and that it is upgraded on 26 February 2018.
The current Amyotha Hluttaw has (223) representatives and working for the greater good of the state and the people. All in all, in the remaining one year period of the tenure of the Amyotha Hluttaw, the representatives have committed to work heart and soul mainly for the people, in line with the motto such as “People’s Desire and People’s Hope – – – Amyotha Hluttaw would serve the work load.” With these concluding words of Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than the article is hereby submitted to the esteemed readers and the people. Translated by UMT (Ahlon)
