20 September
THE 13th session of second Amyotha Hluttaw came to an end yesterday, with the final day meeting where the Deputy Education Minister and the Nay Pyi Taw Council Member answered to the asterisk questions and the Speaker briefed on the activities during this session.
The Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw approved, with the agreement of the Hluttaw, for the substitution of member for Ethnic Affairs Committee, re-placing U Hla Oo of Sagaing Region constitution 4 with U Nyi Nyi Htwe (a) U Ko Ko Lay of Sagaing Region constitution 11.
MP U Marn Law Maung of Chin State constituency 8 asked for employment of admin staff at basic education schools. Deputy Minister replied that it will be done as a second priority after the appointment of teachers, and the employment of admin staff will be done based on the proposals, vacancies and the position of seniority in accordance with the procedures.
In appointing admin staff, the Department of Basic Education has to follow the formal procedures such as reporting to the Office of Union Government, the President’s Office, the Ministry of Planning and Finance, together with seeking approval for relevant ministries.
MP Dr Lin Wai Phyo Latt of Taninthayi constituency 5 asked for developing Mingalar Lake in Myitngal Ward of Myeik Township into public recreation site. Nay Pyi Taw council member U Nyi Tun replied that the plan is not included in 2019-2020 financial budgets as other infrastructural sectors are on the list of priorities.
MP U Myint Naing of Rakh-ine State constituency 5 asked for filling vacancies of teachers at two primary schools and five sub-primary schools in Kyauktaw Township; U Bwe Khein of Chin State constituency 3 asked for construction of a two-storey RC building at the Basic Middle School of Bel Har village. The Deputy Education Minister answered them.
U Aye Bo of Yangon Region constituency 11 asked to distrib-ute water from Gyobyu and Thal-byu river sources to the wards and villages of Hlinethaya Township, and he also asked to know the timing for completion of Kokkowa river water project which is being implemented with the JICA loan. The questions were answered by Nay Pyi Taw council member U Nyi Tun.
The Amyotha Hluttaw Speak-er announced receiving the Word Change Bill sent back by Pyithu Hluttaw with amendments, and he invited to enlist the names of MPs who want to discuss the bill.
Amyotha Hlutaw Bill committee member Daw Hla Htay (a) Daw Ohn Kyi read out the report of bill committee the National Records and Archives Bill sent by the Pyithu Hluttaw with amendments. The Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw passed the bill with the approval of the Hluttaw.
MP U Wai Sein Aung of Rakhine State constituency 1 and MP Daw Nan Moe Moe Htwe of Kayin State constituency 4 dis-cussed the report on the works of Amyotha Hluttaw Ethnic Af-fairs Committee from 8th to the 13th sessions of second Amyotha Hluttaw. MP Daw Nan Moe Moe Htwe discussed the legal rights and fundamental rights for ethnic nationalities in less developed areas, and pointed out the need of frequent meetings with ethnic affairs ministries of the respective states/regions and social communities.
Amyotha Hluttaw Ethnic Affairs Committee’s Chairwoman Daw Nwe Nwe Aung sought for the approval of this report. The Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker approved the report with the agreement of Hluttaw.
Then, the Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker explained the activities of the Hluttaw during the 13th regular session, in 23 days of meeting, from 15 July to 19 September 2019. The MP raised 134 asterisk queries and 191 non-asterisk queries to the Hluttaw.
The Union-level officials answered the questions of MP verbally or in letters.
MP U Khin Win of Magway Region constituency 2 tabled a motion on upgrading water supply facilities to the Union Government. The motion was approved by the Hluttaw. A motion to urge the Union Government for promoting the lives of rural women and another motion to scrutinize the quality of private academic institutions were approved by the Hluutaw.
However, the Hluttaw turned down a motion to approve loan programme for students who will continue higher education.
A new Aquaculture Bill was discussed by Amyotha Hluttaw and the discussions on this report was sent back to the Bill Committee. The Amyotha Hluttaw’s 13th regular session also approved the 5th amendment bills on Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law, Amyotha Hluttaw Election Law and Region/State Election Law, and sent these laws to the Pyithu Hluttaw. The Hluttaw also worked on the Word Change Bill, Protect from the Rise of Imported Goods Bill, and Bill on Urban and Regional Development Scheme.
Amyotha Hluttaw also passed 4th Amendment Bill on Union Judiciary Law in accordance with recommendation of Pyithu Hluttaw. The bill was signed into law by the President in accordance with Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No 25 for 2019.
The New Plant Variety Protection Bill 2019 was sent back to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw due to some disagreements with the Pyithu Hluttaw on their amendment.
The lists of MPs were invit-ed to discuss the Bill to Amend Farmland Law. The Amyotha Hluttaw discussed the Rural Development Bill, the Myanmar Medical Degree, Diploma and Certificate Bill and the National Records and Archives Bill and sent back to the Pyithu Hluttaw. The list of MPs has been invited to discuss The Myanmar Geoscienc-es Council Bill tabled by the Bill Committee.
The Basic Education Bill and the Education Research, Plan-ning and Training Bill were sent back to the Pyithu Hluttaw after being discussed them.
The report No 1/2019 sent by the Committee on Public Letters of Complaints was approved by the Hluttaw. The report of Government’s Guarantees, Pledges and Undertakings Vetting Committee was also approved after discussions of MPs.
The Amyotha Hluttaw also approved the working reports of Ethnic Affairs Committee between the 8th and 13th regular sessions of second Amyotha Hluttaw. The investigation report the Education Promotion Committee was also put on the record.
The Amyotha Hluttaw committees organized a total of 143 meetings during the session, the six debates were held to promote capacities of Amyotha Hluttaw representatives, the Research, Public Relations and International Relations Department released six short papers for the MPs, and answered 85 questions out of 100 for information by 53 MPs.
Aung Ye Thwin, Han Lin Naing
(Translated by Aung Khin)
