By Aung Ye Thwin, Aye Aye Thant
The fourth-day meeting of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s 11th regular session was held yesterday at 10 a.m. in the Main Hall of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw.
Putting on record the appointment of the Kachin State ministers
At the Hluttaw session, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat announced that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has put on record the appointment of U Kyaw Kyaw Win as the Kachin State Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, U La Sai as the Kachin State Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and U Naw Li (a) Za Khaung Kham Yal as the Kachin State Minister for Development Affairs, which was sent from the President after putting it forward to the Hluttaw.
Findings, remarks of the report of the Joint Public Accounts Committee (2/2019)
Hluttaw representatives then discussed the status of tax collection during six month-period from April to September 2018, and the findings and remarks of the report from Joint Public Accounts Committee (2/2019).
A sound decision should be made after weighing up pros and cons
U Tin Tun Naing of Seikgyi Kanaungto constituency joined the discussion, saying that it is of great importance to avoid actions that damage our health as much as we can, especially for keeping the younger generation fit and healthy. In line with remarks of the report of the Joint Public Accounts Committee, a sound decision should be made after weighing up pros and cons of the special tariff reduction.
Stamp duty and taxes
U Khin Cho of Hlaing Bwe constituency took part in the discussion, saying that the public lacks adequate knowledge concerning stamp duty and they fail to pay their taxes. As a result, they were being taken advantage of. He cited that there are people who buy and sell buildings, plots of land and vehicles using illegal contracts, and the State had to suffer the tax loss from the income tax and trading revenue. That’s why, efforts should be made to share educational brochures among the people, as an attempt to receive full payment on taxes.
Concerning the special tariffs, concerted efforts are needed to check the restaurants and guest houses while checking the lists of the companies registering at the Myanmar Investmetn Commission (MIC) to assess whether they are exempt from tax payments or not.
Taking into consideration to assign the allotment of the tax
Daw Cho Cho of Ottwin constituency discussed that the policy of the Union should consider assigning the allotment of the tax and revenue for the fiscal year. According to the Union taxation lists, it was found that the allotment of Union Revenue tax had amounted to 122.65 per cent which had exceeded the allotment. When it comes to the taxation of the Union, it was seen that the Government achieve higher tax revenues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Ministry of Planning and Finance and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. It was also found that the Government obtained lower tax revenues than expected amount of revenues from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and the Nay Pyi Taw Council.
Establishment of a tax payment culture
U Tun Tun of Pwintbyu constituency discussed that it is needed to establish a tax culture in our country while reforming our current tax systems. In doing so, it is needed to set up grand strategy, vision and goal with systematic approaches, as an effort to achieve our goals, and relevant ministers are urged to build tax culture in our country as soon as possible.
Participation in the discussion
Regarding this motion, U King Shein of Taninthayi Region constituency 9, Daw Wint Wah Htun of Shadaw constituency, Daw Khin San Hlaing of Pale constituency and Daw Shwe Shwe Sein Lat of Bago Region constituency 3 participated in the discussion.
The fifth day-meeting of the 11th regular session of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will be held on 5 February 2019. (Translated by Win Ko Ko Aung)
