22 May
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw held its second day meeting of 16th regular session yesterday, with discussions of Union-level organizational members on postponement of referendum to amend some provisions in the 2008 Constitution and the loan proposals sent by the President’s Office.
Union Election Commission member U Than Aung discussed the postponement of the referendum for amendments of provisions 32 (a) and 32 (b) in the 2008 Constitution as the changes will have no significant effects on the national affairs, the government activities and the Hluttaw sectors while the cost of referendum is estimated at K14.646 billion. The Hluttaw approved the postponement of referendum. The President’s Office also tabled proposals through the members of Union-level organizations to reorganize village-tracts and villages in regions and states. Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen Than Htut proposed to acquire loans of K 2099.31 million budget allocation for the ministry under the Union Budget. Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win and Deputy Governor U Bo Bo Ngal from the Central Bank of Myanmar tabled a proposal for getting K 1311.064 billion from the Central Bank of Myanmar for remedy of Union government’s account in 2019-2020 financial year.
The Deputy Minister also discussed getting Japanese yen 30 billion from the JICA to alleviate socioeconomic impacts resulted by the COVID-19 and to support economic policy reform of the country.
He also asked to get US$60 million from the Asian Development Bank to set up loan insurance corporation for the development of SMEs in Myanmar.
The Deputy Minister then discussed signing of Myanmar in MoU to activate the agreements on relaxing the 8th round of ASEAN financial services.
Deputy Minister for Construction Dr Kyaw Lin and Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry submitted a motion to get $20 million loan from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of the South Korea for expanding Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala).
Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe and Deputy Minister U Maung Maung Win also reported to get Euro 33 million loan with no interest from the Unicredit Bank of Austria for electronic registration of population to be implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.
These proposals were agreed to discuss on 26 and 27 May. The proposal of President’s Office to get the $50 million loan from International Development Association for health response emergency project was discussed by 11 Hluttaw representatives.
The Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry read out the report on annual report on national planning put forward by the Union government.
Daw Shwe Shwe Sein Latt read out recommendations and remarks on this report for discussions at the Hluttaw.
Deputy Minister U Maung Maung Win presented the annual report on Union budget for 2018-2019FY, sent by the Union government.
Secretary of Joint Public Accounts Committee’s Secretary U Khin Maung Than read out findings and recommendations of their committee.
The Hluttaw MPs also discussed activities of Myanmar Investment Committee in 2018-2019FY. MP U Khin Cho from Hlaingbwe constituency advised to take measures on maintaining foreign investors, although new investments could not be expected during the economy and income declines worldwide.
The report was discussed by the six MPs and the third-day meeting of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will be organized on 22 May.— Aung Ye Thwin and Aye Aye Thant(Translated by Aung Khin)
