Efforts are being made to help all eligible voters cast their votes and to prevent any irregularities of voting.

 

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing urged civil servants to serve their duties with a clear under­standing of the distinction be­tween political matters and state affairs.

 

Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commis­sion Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at a meeting with departmental officials, town elders, and businesspersons of micro, small and me­dium enterprises (MSME) from Pyay District at Thiri Khittaya Yadana City Hall in Pyay yesterday morning and discussed regional development measures.

 

Speaking at the meeting, the Senior General emphasized that civil servants must be free from party politics and carry out their duties with a clear understand­ing of the distinction between political matters and state affairs.

 

He said everyone should work togeth­er to contribute to successful conducting the multiparty democratic general elec­tion. Efforts are being made to allow all eligible voters to cast their votes and to prevent any irregularities of voting.

 

He added that if people trust the mul­tiparty democratic system promoted by the State, then all those on the voter list should exercise their right to vote.

 

The Senior General unveiled that the State is actively conducting drug eradica­tion operations. However, for these efforts to be successful, not only the responsible organizations but also the entire public must participate collectively in anti-drug initiatives.

 

He continued that everyone must work together to uphold unity and dis­cipline for the entire nation. Only then can a well-ordered, clean, and beautiful region, capital, and nation be established and maintained.

 

He highlighted that the tourism sec­tor includes accommodation, transport, services, and the sale of souvenirs. Among domestic travel, religious pilgrimages are the most common. He added that residents can attract more tourists by developing their regions, maintaining cleanliness and beauty, and providing good services.

 

The Senior General underscored that visitors to the region should be able to enjoy and explore its notable sites and natural beauty with peace of mind and well-being. Therefore, every individual and household should maintain a clean and orderly environment. Likewise, of­ficials in charge of departments should ensure the proper maintenance of roads, bridges, and buildings under their re­sponsibility, thereby contributing to the region’s cleanliness and beauty.

 

He noted that the development of the tourism industry will lead to increased domestic travel spending, generate non-trade income, boost the sale of products, and expand service-related activities. In turn, this will contribute to the socioec­onomic development of both the region and the nation.

 

He said that if agricultural targets are fully met, an addi­tional income of approximately US$8 billion could be generated. Furthermore, the development of domestic manufacturing based on agricultural and live­stock products will strengthen the national economy and re­duce the reliance on imported goods.

 

The Senior General un­derlined that domestic oil suf­ficiency within Pyay District is around 50 per cent. So, ef­forts should be made to further improve the production of oil crops.

 

He urged that it is neces­sary to strive to further increase the production of agricultural and livestock products within the district and the Bago Re­gion. Likewise, in manufac­turing MSME products, meas­ures should be taken to ensure high-quality materials and to carry out advanced packaging systems.

 

The Senior General said that MSME businesses should be developed using locally pro­duced agricultural products to manufacture high-quality, val­ue-added goods.

 

He called for cultivation of cotton in the Bago Region, urging efforts should be made to produce high-quality yarn and textiles.

 

At the meeting, the Pyay District Administrator report­ed on accomplishment over the guidance of the Head of State, beautifying Pyay, efforts to develop MSME businesses, progress of agriculture and live­stock activities, sales of MSME products, improvement of ed­ucation sector in the district, preparations to hold the multi­party democratic general elec­tion and requirements of local transport facilities.

 

Bago Region Chief Minister U Myo Swe Win also present­ed reports on achieving target production of crops in Pyay Dis­trict, efforts to meet the target production of sesame, test cul­tivation of Pawsan paddy strain, edible oil, meat, egg and milk security, fish farming process and requirements of appoint­ment for educational staff.

 

Town elders also requested the Senior General to upgrade rail transport, disburse more loans for development of MSME businesses, eradicate narcotic drugs in Pyay, adopt the policies for edible oil production, and upgrade toilets for development of domestic tourism services.

 

Union Ministers Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Tin Oo Lwin, U Min Naung and U Ko Ko Lwin discussed efforts to uphold law enforcement meas­ures for peace and stability across the nation, declining the criminal cases yearly from 2021, nationwide efforts for drug eradication and needs of public participation, arrangements for the coming general election, participation of people in se­curity measures, development of Sri Ksetra ancient cultural region, efforts for development of tourism sector, arrangements to dredge the moats, upgrad­ing of oil mills, disbursement of loans under the prescribed disciplines, production of oil and natural gas in Pyay region and Pyay Taungtan oil field,

 

The Senior General viewed round te products manufac­tured by MSME businesses and agricultural machinery displayed at the hall and gave necessary guidance.

 

Also, present at the meeting were Secretary of the Commis­sion General Ye Win Oo, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Of­fice of the Commander-in-Chief, and the commander of South­ern Command.

 

The Senior General, his wife and party visited the Bawbawgyi Pagoda, the historic one built by King Duttabaung, in southwest of ancient Sri Ksetra city. Officials of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum reported on preserva­tion of the pagoda in an original state.

 

The Senior General gave guidance that ancient herit­age sites, pagodas, stupas, and buildings are invaluable legacies, and therefore must be systematically preserved and maintained for the long term. The growth of small trees on the main structure of the pagoda could harm its long-term sta­bility, so they must be regularly removed.

 

The Senior General and his wife offered flowers, water and oil light to the pagoda and paid homage, leaving instructions on maintenance of the pagoda for its long-term existence. — MNA/TTA