Fourth regular session of Pyithu Hluttaw continued for 21st day, at the hall of Pyithu Hluttaw of Hluttaw Complex, here, at 10 am today, attended by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann, 396 MPs and departmental heads, responsible persons and the economists from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), officials from Promotion of Marine Products Export Association of Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF), MBA trainees and course instructors of Applied Economics Department of Yangon Institute of Economics as observers.

At the question-and-answer session, U Aung Thein of Ywangan Constituency raised the question on “whether there is a plan to take stern actions to eliminate gambling” and U Tun Aung Kyaw of Ponnagyun Constituency on “whether there is a plan to open a police outpost in Alechaung Village in Alechaung island”.

With respect to the first question, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Kyaw Zan Myint replied: The government is making strenuous efforts to ensure rule of law, security, rural development and poverty alleviation across the country. Effective plans are being drawn to eliminate two and three digits lottery gambling nationwide, which is a major disturbance to these measures. Gambling is a basic cause of big criminal cases like theft and robbery. In addition, it begets poverty. So, Ministry of Home Affairs is taking control of gambling so as to prevent the aftermath of gambling. Although the Ministry is unable to get rid of gambling at present, Anti-Gambling Supervisory Committee and Gambling Educative Team are giving talks, erect signboards that read the sentences for those who commit the gambling cases and distribute pamphlets. Regarding the second question, at present, there is no plan to open police outpost in Alechaung Village. Conditions in districts and townships of Rakhine State are being studied.

And plans are under way to open police stations and police outposts, based on the conditions of security needs. Deputy Minister for Health Dr Daw Myat Myat Ohn Khin replied to the question of Dr Maung Maung Wint of Bahan Constituency on “Sufficient availability of qualified teachers to lecture the theory and practical lessons of medical subjects”.

She said: Appointment of experienced scholars as experts is being carried out to avoid teacher gaps after experienced scholars have received old-age pensions. And, officials at different level are making coordination over difficulties at the work. Filling of vacant posts of teachers and promotions are being undertaken under the leadership of Management Committee of the Ministry of Health.

At the session of the extended formation of one committee, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of Kawhmu Constituency was appointed as chairman of Committee for Rule of Law and Peace and Stability and U Win Myint of Pathein Constituency, Secretary. Duties are assigned to members of former committee and commission.

The paragraph saying that “if existing laws and orders and directives issued by respective organizations occasionally are in conformity with the current conditions, enforcement of orders and directives are to be monitored and controlled, which includes under the section of former committee’s duties,” is to be excluded. And it is substituted with the paragraph saying that bylaws, regulations, disciplines, announcements, directives and procedures are to be adjusted in conformity with the existing laws and Union Hluttaw’s laws and enforcement are to be monitored and controlled if they have conformity.
Hluttaw sought the approval regarding extended formation of a new Pyithu Hluttaw Committee, duty assignment of new committee members and revocation and substitution of committee’s duties, and decided to approve it.

After that, on behalf of the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker, Deputy Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw U Nanda Kyaw Swa submitted name lists of members and duties, rights and term of newly-formed committee and commission. In his speech, the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker said: it can not be assumed and said that raising questions and submitting proposals and bills alone by Hluttaw representatives are dutiful. They would discharge the duties of Hluttaw to the full only when there is check and balance system by Hluttaw Committee and respective organizations.
Committees are small Hluttaws in Hluttaw. Only when Hluttaw Committee have more capability, will they be able to serve the interests of the State and people more, which is the duty of Hluttaw. So, Hluttaw representatives are urged to discharge duties and exercise rights vested by the committee with a sense of uprightness and benevolence. Hluttaw sought the approval regarding the number and names of members of the Committee and Commission and the newly-formed Committee’s duties, rights and term, and decided to approve it.

Afterwards, Pyithu Hluttaw Rights Committee Chairman U Nanda Kyaw Swa submitted the reports submitted at previous session.
At the bill-discussion session, U Maung Maung Thein of Kayan Constituency, Dr Win Myint of Hline Constituency, U Win Oo of Yebyu Constituency and U Win Than of Thabaung Constituency discussed Foreign Investment Bill.

With respect to the bill, Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue U Win Shein discussed that the facts about Foreign Investment Bill discussed by Hluttaw representatives are complete and valid. Especially, it is obvious that they gave suggestions on the bill to become a law that will be beneficial to the State and people.

That bill is crucial for the State and people. Thus, it needs to hold discussions with Hluttaw committee extensively and scholars in private before the facts are discussed separately.

As a Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, he warned the discussion of some representatives to be in conformity with the rules and regulations recently and he expected that that would not harm the active and open discussion of representatives and but would pave the way for active and open discussion in the interests of the country and the people, Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann said.

He clarified that he had no option but to warn some representatives who took part in the discussion to be in conformity the rules and regulations and that did not mean to prohibit the open and active discussion. He also urged the Pyithu Hluttaw and the representatives to participate in the discussion openly and actively and in conformity with the rules and regulations in order to promote interests of the country and the people.

As he assumed that the Foreign Investment Law is important for the country and the people and Citizens and the Investment Law which is needed and also important for the country, he said. As a Speaker, he accepted the point presented by a Union level committee on half of the Union Government that the representatives and committees of Hluttaw are to discuss at large and to listen the discussion as part of efforts for enacting the Foreign investment law and the Citizens Investment Law.

Also present at the today meeting were trainees from the MBA course, personnel from commissions, some businessmen who participated in the foreign direct investment meeting in Yangon, experts and some businessmen, he said.

He continued to say that generally, the main duty of the Hluttaw is to make laws and the Hluttaw had to evaluate whether the laws it made would benefit the citizens, give protection to the interests of the citizens, work well practically in the country and be in conformity with the international treaties and conventions.

The Hluttaw must listen to the voice of a citizen and the people to make a law and representatives were to bring the voice to the Hluttaw and to discuss it openly and actively if the voice was reasonable and would benefit the people and the citizens, he added.

If a suggestion proposed by a representative was reasonable and would benefit the country and the people, the suggestion would be translated to action by other representatives, he said.

Similarly, when a voice of the people was brought to the Hluttaw by a representative, other representatives were responsible to discuss it and to make decision. A voice of the people can be brought to the Hluttaw as a question, a proposal and a bill by representatives, he said. The Hluttaw listened to the voices of the people and if the Hluttaw committees assumed that a voice was not brought to the Hluttaw, they went to places where they could hear the voices, he said. He recounted his meeting with the people including traders, farmers, labours and governmental employees at the MICC Hall in Yangon on 30 June, saying that he could also hear the voices of the people along with the Hluttaw committees. After the voices of the people were discussed at the Hluttaw, he decided to submit a proposal to the Hluttaw to make a law which would work to the advantage of the country, he said.

The Pyithu Hluttaw brought back the Foreign investment bill that it sent to Amyotha Hluttaw and was discussing it and those personnel who love the country and the people gave suggestion to the bill, he said, He urged responsible committees to listen to the discussion of the representatives when they met with Hluttaw committees. Those who are not representatives are not allowed to take part in the discussion at the Hluttaw. Similarly, the rules and regulations of the Hluttaw allows only the Union level representatives to make discussion with the permission of the Speaker, he said. Therefore, the Hluttaw accepted the proposal of the Union-level committees as it can work to the advantage of the country and urged the Hluttaw committees discuss the proposal so that experts and those who interested in the proposal can feed back it, he said.

At today’s session, three questions raised and answered, one new committee formed, revocation and substitution regarding to duties assigned to new members and committee’s duties submitted, the approval sought and one bill discussed.

The newly-formed Committee for Rule of Law and Peace and Stability is formed with 15 Pyithu Hluttaw represetatives, namely Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of Kawhmu Constituency as chairperson, U Win Myint of Pathein Constituency as secretary and U Man Maung Maung Nyan of Pantanaw Constituency, U Min Swe of DaikU Constituency, Daw Dwe Bu of Ingyanyan Constituency, U Sai Tun Sein of Mongpyin Constituency, Dr Ro Oak of Matupi Constituency, U Khin Maung Myint of Zeegon Constituency, Daw Mi Yin Chan of Kyaikmaraw Constituency, Daw Le Le Win Swe of Tamway Constituency, U Soe Yel of Dimawhso Constituency, Daw Khin Saw Wai of Yathaedaung Constituency, U Nelson (a) U Hsaunghsi of Kyaukme Constituency, U Thein Nyunt of Thingangyun Constituency and Dr Zaw Myint Maung of Kyaukpadaung Constituency as members.

The meeting came to an end at 1.45 pm, and 22nd day session continues at 10 am tomorrow.—MNA