24 Aug
SEVENTEEN MPs debated the Joint Scrutinizing Committee’s report on the Second Bill Amending the Constitution during the 15th-day meeting of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s 13th regular session yesterday.
The assembly also discussd the tax income list of Union Ministries and organizations during first six month of fiscal year 2018-2019, sent by the Union Government, and the Joint Public Accounts Committee’s Report No. 12/2019 concerning that list.
MPs debate charter second amendment bill
Firstly, MP U Kyaw Naing of Yangon Region constituency 12 highlighted the importance of Section 86 (a) of the Constitution which states a matter that shall be resolved in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, save as otherwise provided by the Constitution, shall be determined by a majority of votes of the representatives of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw who are present and voting.
U Kyaw Naing said, as the matter was already agreed to on 14 May 2019, the Joint Committee on Amending the 2008 Constitution commented on incorporating scrutinizing processes in its future amendment process. As the comment falls within the committee’s authority and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has already approved of it, he urged assembly to approve the report in respect of the original Constitution and the Hluttaw.
MPs voice legitimacy concerns
Next, MP U Khin Maung Myint of Yaksawk constituency said he strongly rejects the report as the joint committee’s actions are unconstitutional for not adhering to the provisions in Chapter XII of the Constitution nor to sections 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100 of the related Bylaw. He said the bill should be amended in consistency with Chapter XII.
Following this, MP U Sai Tun Sein of Mongpyin constituency said the 45-member joint committee is only at the stage of collecting proposed amendments and was delegated the task by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. He said it will take time for the report to become an actual bill and voiced his opinion of the improperness of viewing this legal process as not conforming to existing laws.
Formation legit, process needs to follow suit
Next, Tatmadaw Pyithu Hluttaw representative Lt-Col Zaw Min Oo said that while the formation of the 45-member committee confirms to provisions in the charter, amendments to the Constitution should follow sections 433, 434, 435 and 436 of Chapter XII.
He said the joint committee’s reports does not conform with sections 433 and 435 of the Constitution nor with Sections 133 to 139 of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Bylaw. He said he rejects the committee’s reports as it failed to analyse the bill submitted by Dr Maung Tin and urged the Hluttaw to adhere to existing laws and bylaws.
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker then announced that the remaining Hluttaw representatives for discussing the report are scheduled to do so in the next meeting.
MPs debate tax income report of Union institutions
Next, MPs debated the Joint Public Accounts Committe’s report concerning the tax income list of Union Ministries and organizations in the first six months of 2018-2019 FY.
Daw Cho Cho of Ottwin constituency, called on the ministries concerned to take necessary action against the complaints that mobile phone bills were allegedly cut by phone operators for the services they did not subscribe.
She urged the authorities not to turn a blind eye to the complaints on media by the people that the amount of cash cut by mobile operators reaches over K560 million per day.
U Win Thein Zaw of Salingyi constituency discussed that the income tax target should be pragmatic, a report that explained the income tax which did not meet the target should bear the accountability and responsibility.
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker then announced that the remaining programmes concerning the Joint Public Accounts Committee’s reports will be continued in the next Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting.—Mawsi, Hmwe Kyu Zin (Translated by GNLM)
