The 10-day meeting of the second Pyithu Hluttaw’s eighth regular session was held at the Pyithu Hluttaw meeting hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning, where the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University Bill was approved by the Hluttaw.
Question-and-answer session
At the meeting, six asterisk-marked questions were answered by Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs Nai Thet Lwin, Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Aung Myin Tun and Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung.
U Pe Than of Myebon constituency asked if there were plans to designate holidays for special days such as the state day, ethnic national day and other unique days of the states and ethnic nationals. Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs Nai Thet Lwin replied that the union government’s office announced public holidays yearly, and according to that announcement, there is an average of 26 public holidays, including the Myanmar New Year holidays, every year. As Saturdays and Sundays are also designated as holidays, there is an average of some 130 holidays every year. There are seven states in the country, and if the state day is added to the list, there will be seven additional holidays. The country has more than 100 ethnic nationals, and if the special days of these are added, there will be too many holidays. The law protecting the ethnic rights, enacted in 24 February 2015, has given the full right to all ethnic nationals to celebrate their special days, according to their traditions and designating a holiday for an ethnic national or a state is a matter for the respective state Hluttaw to debate and decide. Therefore, the union government has no plan to designate holidays for special days such as the state day, ethnic national day and other unique days, said the union minister.
Replying to a question raised by U Nyunt Aung of Monywa constituency on the plan to construct wastewater drains in Monywa, Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Aung Myin Tun explained that detailed calculations to ensure proper water flow is being done, and the drains will be constructed after the funds are allocated.
Next, U Oo Hla Saw of Mrauk U constituency asked a question in three parts: the allocation of US$25 million as-sistance from the government of India, which will be used in Rakhine State, and the norm for selecting the location of the assistance. Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung replied that the government of India and the government of Myanmar had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide assistance of $25 million for the socio-economic development of ethnic nationals in Rakhine State on 20 December 2017. TheMoU was signed by the deputy minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement and the Indian foreign affairs secretary.
U Soe Aung said kyat equivalent to $5 million per year was put in the capital revenue account of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Disaster Management Department, in the Union Budget, and kyat equivalent to $5 million per year was put in the capital expenditure account of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Disaster Management Department, in the Union Budget. The allocation is for five years, starting from the 2018-2019 fiscal year to the 2022-2023 fiscal year, said the deputy minister.
Regarding the second and third part of the question, on the assistance being used in Rakhine State and the norm for selecting the location, he said the project works were selected and submitted by the relevant union ministries and the Rakhine State government in April 2018.
The projects were selected based on the project selection and implementation method set in the MoU. Five union ministries submitted 18 projects at an estimated cost of $26.5 million, while the Rakhine State government submitted 10 projects at an estimated cost of $24.5 million. The costs were for five years, and the projects and cost are just proposals and will be approved only after further coordination, said the deputy minister.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement will lead the discussion andcoordination with the relevant ministries, Ministry of Planning and Finance, the Rakhine State government and the Amyotha and Pyithu Hluttaw representatives on the selection of projects, and the projects will be implemented and managed in the most effective way, explained the deputy minister.
Questions raised by U Win Min of Hlinethaya constituency, U Lar Mar Lay of Hsawlaw constituency and U Min Thein of Taungdwingyi constituency were answered by Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Aung Myin Tun and Deputy Minister U Soe Aung.
Motion on enacting effective law to prevent rape of minors
Next, Daw Khin Saw Wai of Yathedaung constituency tabled a motion urging the union government to enact an effective special law to prevent the rape of minors, as such cases had reached an alarming level. She added that the death penalty be included in the law.
The Hluttaw decided to accept the motion, and the Hluttaw speaker announced the acceptance of the motion by the Hluttaw for discussion. The Hluttaw speaker also called for the Hluttaw representatives who wanted to discuss the motion to enrol their names.
Information, discussion and decision on bills
Later, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat informed the Hluttaw about receiving the Myanmar Historical Commission Bill, sent without amendments by the Amyotha Hluttaw, and announced to proceed with it.
The bill committee then submitted an amendment motion on the International Theravada Buddhist MissionaryUniversity Bill, submitted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, and the motion was discussed by U Aung Hlaing Win of Mingaladon constituency and Dr. Than Aung Soe of Minhla constituency.
After the decision of the Hluttaw was obtained to approve the bill, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat announced the approval and requested to proceed with it.
The 11th -day meeting of the second Pyithu Hluttaw’s eighth regular session will be held on 4 June.
Reference: GNLM
June 2, 2018