21 Aug
The 10th-day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 17th regular session convened in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Q&A on construction, squatters, IDPs
MP U Hla Oo from Sagaing Region constituency 4 asked whether there were plans to expand the road from milepost 8 to 14 of the Monywa-Thazi-Naung Gyi Ai-Mu Kam Gyi-Seikkun-Shwebo road from 12 feet to 18 feet wide within the 2020-2021 financial year. Union Minister for Construction U Han Zaw replied that they only received funding for expanding 4 furlongs from mileposts (7/4) to (8/0) but will submit budget proposals for the remaining road in successive financial years. MP U Hla Myint (a) U Hla Myint Than from Mon State constituency 11 asked whether squatters in Kyaiktiyo’s wildlife sanctuary will be dealt with in a legal manner. Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr Ye Myint Swe responded that squatters and poachers were dealt with by the joint management group consisting of members from the forestry department, the police, Kyaiktiyo’s board of trustees, firefighters, the General Administration Department, and the regional military group.
MP U Myint Naing from Rakhine State constituency 5 then asked whether there were plans to install proper shelter from the rains for displaced persons in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, and to swiftly implement IDP camps. Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung replied that the Department of Disaster Management has given out K380 million in financial assistance to displaced persons in Kyauktaw Township between December 2018 to 30 July 2020. The Deputy Minister said they are planning to construct 4 rows of accommodation and 16 toilet units to meet the needs of increased IDPs in Kyauktaw Township. He said it will cost around K88.720 million but will accommodate around 500 to 600 IDPs once completed.
Approving medical equipment bill
The medical equipment bill was debated by MP U Soe Thein from Taninthayi Region constituency 10, MP Dr Tin Tin Win from Bago Region constituency 5, and Tatmadaw representative Captain Daw Thazin Hlaing.
Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than then gathered the approval of the assembly for a proposal to amend the bylaws amending Water Resource and Bodies of Water Conservation Bylaw, sent by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
MPs debate cancer report
Hluttaw representatives then debated a report from the Amyotha Hluttaw Health, Sports and Culture Committee uncovering methods to reduce and protect from the spread of cancer and its mortality rate. MP Naw Hla Hla Soe from Yangon Region constituency 10 said there is a risk of cancer in each stage of production of food to the dining table and the Food and Drug Administration and other relevant organizations should strictly manage quality control of food packaging. She also advised the committee to examine the FDA’s activities to ensure sound public health.
MP U Htay Oo of Yangon Region constituency 2 then suggested a comprehensive contact list of philanthropic cancer foundations should be made available for low-income cancer patients without access to treatment. He also suggested adding in successful cancer treatment methods from around the world in the report to encourage cancer patients. The report was further debated by Daw Shwe Shwe Sein from Bago Region constituency 3, Tatmadaw representative Captain Daw Win Thiri Swe, Dr Win Myint from Bago Region constituency 11, and Dr U Kwyel Kwyel from Mandalay Region constituency 6. The secretary of the Amyotha Hluttaw Health, Sports and Culture Committee, Dr San Maung Maung, responded to the MPs’ debate and motioned for the report to be approved. The Speaker gathered the deliberation of the Hluttaw, received no opposition, and announced the report has been approved.
Two committee reports approved
MP U Thet Naing Soe, member of the Amyotha Hluttaw Farmers’ Affairs Committee, reading the committee’s report on their processes from 1 March 2018 to 30 July 2020 to the assembly. The Speaker called for MPs interested in discussing the report to enrol their names.
MP Daw San San Myint, a member of the Committee on Immigration and Myanmar Internal and Migrant Workers, read the committee’s report on its processes between 1 March 2018 to 30 July 2020 to the assembly. The Speaker then called for MPs interested in discussing the report to enroll their names. The 11th-day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 17th regular session will convene on 25 August.
Aung Ye Thwin (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
