By Mawsi and Hmwe Kyu Zin; Photo : Hteik Kyi
THE Second Pyithu Hluttaw organized the sixth day meeting of thirteenth regular session on Wednesday. Before the queries of MPs, the Speaker announced the Pyithu Hluttaw accepted the request of MP Daw Cho Cho from Ottwin constituency to quit Banking and Financial Development Committee. The Speaker also updated the numbers, the names, the leading person and tasks in the formation of the Advisory Group on Parliamentary Capacity-building.
Movie Theatres
U Oo Hla Saw, MP from MraukU constituency, asked about the possible construction of movie theatres in Sittway Township, Rakhine State.
U Aung Hla Tun, Deputy Minister for Information, said that a total of four movie theatres were nationalized on 1 July 1969 by the order of Information Ministry under the Revolutionary Council; these were later privatized with agreements and without agreements to operate these facilities for other commercial purposes instead of movie industry; among these five facilities, ‘Myoma’ theatre was under the management of Ministry of Information, and the new owner U Tun Maung used it as a movie theatre till 2013. And that the ministry notified him to rerun the movie theatre. Moreover, the ministry issued notifications on 18 February 2015 to all the owners of movie theatres across the country to adhere to agreements included in the purchasing contract to use the facilities for movie shows. The lower floor of ‘Myoma’ theatre is being used for a restaurant, and the upper floor is being prepared for movie shows, but the date has not been specified until now.
The deputy minister also said some movie theatres in Rakhine State were privatized with the agreements to continue this business. As the new owners failed to meet the agreements, they have been remined to stick to the promises.
According to the order on 10 April 2018, a total of 121 movie theaters under the management of ministry and are liable for showing movies were transferred to Nay Pyi Taw Council, the governments of states and regions, while the documents of five movie theatres in Rakhine State were also handed over to its government for close and effective management.
The deputy minister concluded that the government has no plan yet to construct more movie theatres in Rakhine State, but the any proposal to do this business will be decided by the State government.
U Myint Lwin, MP of Twantay constituency, asked to show educative short films and slogans before starting a movie at the theatres across the country.
The deputy minster replied that as the Motion Picture Enterprise has no digital version for the educative short films and slogans yet, these cannot be screened at the movie theatres until now. Instead, captions and logs are being used for some educative progrmmes, for example, No Smoking and No Alcohol campaigns. He also said the educative short films and campaigns could be shown before saluting the National Flag, and posters can be displayed for easy visibility in line with the policies and instructions of relevant departments.
Plan for storage of reserved electricity
U Nay Myo Htet, MP of Kyauktada constituency, asked to adopt plan for generating more electricity for reservation.
Dr Tun Naing, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy, explained that the generation of electricity must be increased by 10 to 20 per cent for reserved power that can be classified as spinning reserve and cold reserve.
Myanmar can produce about 3,600 MW annually. The country’s power demand is increasing at a rate of 13 per cent every year. The ministry has targeted to generate annual production of 5,646 MW in 2021- 20122 fiscal year, and expected to store reserved power up to 14 per cent between 2019-2020 and 2025-2026.
Construction of sports facilities
U Tin Aye, MP from Matman constituency, asked about constructions of facilities for sports activities in Matman Township, Shan State. Dr Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports, replied to the quries.
Construction of national grids
U Thaung Aye, MP of Pyawbwe Township, asked about construction of one 33/11 KVA 3 MVA power distribution station and 12-mile long 11KV power line to supply electricity for people in 30 villages in northern part of Pyawbwe Township.
Daw Cho Cho, MP of Ottwin constituency, asked about electricity supply from national grids through affordable rate to the villages with self-reliant basis.
U Thet Naing Oo, MP from Yebyu constituency, asked about the development of LNG power supply project (Kanpauk) for power distribution in southern Myanmar.
The queries were replied by Dr Tun Naing, the Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy.
The Pyithu Hluttaw then submitted proposals and passed the Bill for the Fourth Amendment to Union Judiciary Law unanimously.
Measures against tobacco consumption
U Khin Cho, Mp from Hlaingbwe constituency, urged the government to make effective measures against tobacco consumption.
U Saw Tun Mya Aung, Papun constituency, suggested tobacco consumption should be prohibited by law as it is a tradition of ancestors, and it must be banned at schools and university campus, as well as in public areas of railway and bus stations. As a whole, he supported the proposal.
U Thein Tan, MP of Hlegu constituncy, said that tobacco consumption in Southeast Asia amounted to 89 per cent of global consumption, while Myanmar, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Sri Lanka stand atop in the list of tobacco consumption rate. Among them, over 12 billion of cheroot and cigarettes are being consumed in Myanmar annually. He also advised to make no-smoking campaigns, and to raise overall taxes on tobacco products.
Moreover, Sedoktara constituency MP U Kyaw Aung Lwin, Loikaw Constituency MP Dr Khin Sithu, Kawhmu constituency MP U Kyaw Swe Win, Chauk constituency MP U Bo Gyi, Dala constituency MP Dr Sein Mya Aye, Htigyaing Constituency MP U Maung Maung and PyinOoLwin constituency MP Dr U Aung Khin made discussions.
Dr Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports agreed the proposal along with the discussions, and the Hluttaw approved it.
MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
