March 26, 2020
The 13th-day meeting of the Second Pyithu Hluttaw’s 15th regular session was held yesterday. Asterisk-marked questions were raised, a bill approved, a report from the Government’s Guarantees, Pledges and Undertakings Vetting Committee was approved, and Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat delivered the closing speech.
First, U Ar Moe Si of Khaunglanphu constituency asked whether the Lawwuchila bridge in Khaunglanphu Township will be upgraded in the 2019-2020 financial year. Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen Than Htut replied that a budget proposal for the upgrade will be submitted after an inspection on the bridge approves it.
Next, U Myint Oo of Thanetpin constituency asked whether there were plans to construct a sluice gate in Sittpinseik creek so as to store a sufficient amount of water for summer crops in Bago, Waw, Thanetpin and Kawa townships of Bago District and for the 30-mile green project in Yangon Region.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw replied that the regional government has compiled a budget proposal for the sluice gate and will submit it to the Union Government. The project is estimated at K15 billion and the Yangon Region government has slated K3 billion in their budget proposal for 2020-2021 financial year. The project is slated to take 3 years.
Daw Khin Saw Wai of Yethedaung constituency asked whether the 15.6 miles of road left to be paved on the Ponnagyun-Yethedaung road will be completed in 2019-2020FY.
Deputy Minister for Construction Dr Kyaw Linn replied that the 6 furlongs of the road has been included in the 2019-2020 supplementary budget proposal while the remaining 15 miles will be included in the Union and Rakhine government capital fund proposals for 2020-2021FY.
Next, Speaker U T Khun Myat read the report on the Protection of Individual Freedom and Personal Safety of Citizens Bill submitted by the Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee. He then announced that bill has been approved as no MP voiced any objections.
Next, the Speaker announced the Amyotha Hluttaw has sent back the tax tribunal bylaw and high court lawyer council election bylaw without any amendments.
This was followed by Daw Aye Mya Mya Myo of Kyauktan constituency and Tatmadaw Pyithu Hluttaw representative Major Win Min Tun debated the report from the Government’s Guarantees, Pledges and Undertakings Vetting Committee.
Committee member U Nyein Thit then responded to Hluttaw representatives’ discussions and committee secretary U Zone Theint tabled a motion to approve the report. The Speaker called for the deliberation of the assembly, received approval and approved the report.
The Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker then delivered the closing speech of the current regular session. He said the session had 13 meetings, answered 97 asterisk-marked questions, 757 non-marked questions, tabled a motion of remorse and 5 other motions, put one motion on record and have 5 motions left for discussion. He said 22 bills were processes, 7 approved and 15 ongoing.
The Speaker said 6 Tatmadaw Pyithu Hluttaw representatives were took the oath of office and 43 individual interviews for various Hluttaw committees were disseminated and 12 research papers were distributed.
The Speaker then told the Hluttaw representatives that they are part of one of the three branches of government and reminded them to ensure the voice of the people and their aspirations are fulfilled and to work together to establish a democratic federal republic.
He said as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is designated as a pandemic by WHO, the Hluttaw representatives are tasked with ensuring the public is aware of all guidelines and information related to it distributed by the Ministry of Health and Sports.—Aye Aye Thant (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
