4 July 2012—-The fourth regular session of the First Pyithu Hlutttaw was held for the first day at Pyithu Hluttaw Hall in Hluttaw Complex here today, attended by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and 417 MPs. At the session, three new Hluttaw representatives out of 37 MPs elected to the Pyithu Hluttaw in 1st April election who have not taken oath yet under Article 8 of Pyithu Hluttaw Law and one Defence Services personnel Hluttaw representative who has been reshuffled took affirmation before the Hluttaw Speaker, three questions were answered, Hluttaw’s functions recorded, one proposal and one bill submitted.
In his greetings, the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker welcomed the new Hluttaw representatives and cheered up the old MPs for their devotion for the sake of people in and outside the parliament. He urged again MPs to focus on equality in serving interests of the nation, citizens and the Union without party attachment, dogmatism, regionalism, racism and sectarianism. He also urged them to take lessons instead of pointing the finger at one another what had happened in the past and boldly undertake the reforms for better future. He urged them to strengthen the parliament to make sure its firm standing and as some matters could not be handled in accordance with democratic practices before the parliament came into existence, to build themselves competent and whiter than white for firmness of the parliament and to exercise democratic practices correctly and systematically. He urged them to undertake the functions of parliament legally and recommendations and monitoring of the institutions concerned and the media. He urged them to take the opinions

and wishes of the people for urgent enactment of laws serving and protecting the interests of the people in accordance with the motto of the parliament —“People’s voice, Hluttaw’s voice; People’s wishes, Hluttaw’s wishes, People’s aspiration, Hluttaw’s determination”, to make sure its effectiveness in real world and to enforce the rule of law across the nation. The success of the functions of the parliament relies much on the Hluttaw committees. There were four committees at first and later 19 more were established due to work requirements.

In addition, Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission was founded to assist the parliament and its committees in their functions. The main objective of the commission is to act as think tank the parliament and its commission in amending and revoking the laws that cannot serve and protect the interests of the nation and its people and in formulating the new ones which contribute to interests of the nation and its people, assessing the existing laws. Its objective is to assess political, economic, social, cultural, science and technology and communication technology issues upon the request of the Hluttaw Speaker and present its assessment results to the parliament through the speaker.

As far as it is learned, there is a great deal of laws in need of amending, revoking or rewriting. Furthermore, the onus is upon the parliament and MPs to make sure institutions concerned and the entire public adhere to the existing laws and smooth running of check and balance system, both of which call for genuine goodwill and competency of the MPs. The speaker then expressed his belief that the dedicated cooperation of the new MPs would bolster the capacity of the parliament enhancing its dignity and image. In conclusion, the speaker urged them to be aware of how important role they are playing in democratic reforms and democratization process, serving the interests of the nation and its people accomplishing own duties and obligations of the parliament.

U Aung Thein Lin of South Okkalapa Constituency asked when ward administrators will be reselected under law as ward administrators election law ha been issued by the government.

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Kyaw Zan Myint replied that the bylaws have been submitted to the upper level in line with the procedures as the amount of emoluments and operation expense to be provided are under discussion, selection of ward or village-tract administrators will be carried out after the ward or village-tract administration bylaws have been promulgated and the budget has been confirmed. Dr Than Win of North Okkalapa Constituency asked whether there is plan to reconstitute or dissolve the civil services central institutes as they are no more in conformity with the current situation of the State. Chairman of Union Civil Services Board U Kyaw Thu replied that the argument is no ground as curriculum of the institutes have been rewritten and updated in line with the current administrative mechanism reform of the State.

Nowadays, neighbours, ASEAN fellow countries and every world’s developed nation have established civil service institutes to enhance the capacity of public servants. There is no plan to dissolve both the civil services institutes at a time capacity building must be focused more to keep abreast of other countries. Instead, those institutes must be strengthened to meet international standard, turning out good public servants. U Tun Aung Khaing of Pauktaw Constituency asked whether the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has a plan to not auction the use of rivers and creeks for fishing purpose in Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State. Union Minister for Livestock and Fisheries U Ohn Myint replied that the Fisheries department of the ministry always has acted as an arbitrator between the businessmen who have won the tender for fishing and basic workers as regards wage problem and disputers over work conditions and others in real time. The rural people have the right to fishing as a livelihood for survival on common waters with traditional fishing equipment. The decision whether to auction the fishing sites in Pauktaw Township for 2012-2013 fiscal year is up Rakhine State government which has to manage in line with its fresh water fishery law.

U Aye Mauk of Mahlaing Constituency proposed the Union government to set standards for different sectors and fields and to legitimate those standards within a set period. The proposal will be discussed on 6 July and MPs wishing to discuss the proposal are reported to register by 1 pm on 5 July. Pyithu Hluttaw Education Promotion Committee Chairman Dr Chan Nyein submitted the university education bill 2012 and member of the Bill Committee U Thein Tun clarified the assessment report of the bill committee in connection to the bill.

The date to discuss the bill will be announced and MPs wishing to make amendments are reported to register by 4 pm on 9 July. The Europe visit of Myanmar parliamentary delegation led by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann to Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, England, Denmark, and Norway form 6-5-2012 to 23-5-2012 at the invitation of the heads of respective parliaments, the visit of Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Khin Maung Oo, Dr Win Myint and two Amyotha Hluttaw representatives to Singapore to attend parliamentary workshop from 15-5-2012 to 17-5-2012 and Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Thein Lwin’s study tour to Australia from 20-5-2012 to 26-5-2012, Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Maung Maung Swe and party’s visit to Turkey to attend The Fifth International Parliamentarian’s Conference on the Implementation of ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI-2012) from 24-5-2012 to 24-2012, Pyihu Hluttaw representative Thura U Aung Ko and party’s visit to China from 29-5-2012 to 5-6-2012, Pyithu Hluttaw Daw Win Maw Tun and party’s study visit to Sweden from 6-6-2012 to 14-6-2012 was put on record. The first day meeting came to an end at 11.35 am and the second meeting continues at 10 am tomorrow.