The third regular session of the first Amyotha Hluttaw continued for the 13th day at the Amyotha Hluttaw Hall in the Hluttaw Building here today.
It was attended by Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint and 191 representatives of Amyotha Hluttaw. During the meeting, five representatives raised questions and Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Thein Htay replied the questions.
U Swe Aung of Yangon Region constituency No 12 asked the ministry whether it had a plan to upgrade the laterite road in Waryonson Village-tract in Hlegu Township to a asphalt road or a concrete road.
He replied that it was estimated that it would cost K165.43 million to upgrade the road to a 12-ft-in-width asphalt road and K 236 million to a concrete one. The road, passing through villages, was linking Waryonson Village-tract and the Yangon-Mandalay Highway and the road was two miles and one furlong long, he said.
The development affairs committees had been carrying out tasks for upgrading roads from earthern to gravel ones in rural areas, and still, the ministry had no plan to upgrade the road to a concrete one, he said. In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, one conduit pipe would be constructed on the road and would upgrade a distance of three furlong to a gravel one at the cost of K23 million funded by Hlegu Township Development Affairs Committee, he added.
U Aye of Mandalay Region constituency No. 7 asked whether the ministry had a plan to maintain the roads leading to famous pagodas in Bagan archaeological region. NyaungU Township Development Affairs Committee had planned to maintain the major roads Anawrahta, Shwesigon, Ngatpittaung, Alodawpyai and Phayani roads and the department would spend K26.45 million on maintain a distance of four furlong on Anawrahta Road, extension of a distance of one furlong on Shwesigon Pagoda Road and repaving a distance of one furlong on Payani Pagoda Road.
The ministry did not upgrade some earthen roads in Bagan archaeological region, but repaired damages in coordination with boards of trustees of ancient pagodas not to destroy the original styles, he said. To maintain the roads leading the famous pagodas in Bagan archaeological region, the Ministry of Culture had drawn plans to conserve the region and the Ministry of Border Affairs would maintain the roads in the region without damaging the original styles in coordination with the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library of the Ministry of Culture.
U Naing Tun Ohn of Mon State constituency No. 5 asked whether the ministry had a plan to repair Karuitpi Bridge over the Karuitpi Creek in Karuitpi Village in Thanbyuzayat Township.
Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Thein Htay replied that the bridge was constructed at the cost of K426.678 million funded by the people and was commissioned into service on 27 October 2010. The bridge located on Thanbyuzayat-Anin Road passing through villages was 300 ft long and 18 ft wide, he said. The bridge crosses the creek in 60-foot-in-length two spans of iron bailey type. The span of the bridge on the bank in Thanbyuzayat side is 120 ft long while 60 ft long on the bank in Karuitpi side and those portions are of iron-reinforced type.
Trucks loaded with fish paste, dried fish and rubber weighing five tons were crossing Karuitpi Bridge daily. The trucks weighing over five tons of loads were prohibited not to pass through the bridge though it could withstand eight tons of loads, he said. The ministry would make detailed assessment to the foundation of the bridge and Thanbyuzayat Township Development Affairs Committee would carry out the tasks for maintaining and conserving the bridge.
U Aung Cho Oo of Bago Region constituency No 11 asked whether the ministry to construct Nyaungpinkaryar-Kanyan Road linking between Monyo and Shwetaung townships and to repair roads in Monyo.
The union minister replied that the road had a distance of two miles and four furlongs in Monyo Township and four furlongs in Shwedaung Township totalling three miles. It was estimated that it would cost K 68 million to construct the earthen road and K 7 million to construct seven conduit pipes along the road as it was passing the wetland and farmland, he added.
In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, Monyo Township Development Affairs Committee would pave a distance of three furlong with asphalt in the township at the cost of K 21 million funded by the State and work on construction the new road linking between Nyaungpinkaryar and Kanyan villages would be launched in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and stepped up year by year, he said.
U Aung Win of Taninthayi Region Constituency No 4 asked whether the ministry had a plan to upgrade the road linking between Kyaukhlegar and Taungzin in Thayetchaung Township to a gravel one.
The Union Minister replied that the road had a distance of seven miles and four furlong in a gravel section and seven miles and four furlong in earthen portion totaling 15 miles. The ministry had constructed a distance of two furlongs in the 2007-2008 fiscal year and two concrete bridges in the 2008-2009 fiscal year and one wooden bridge in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, at the total cost of K12.62 million.
It was estimated that it would cost K606 million to upgrade the road which was about 10 miles long and just a road for bullock carts to a gravel one and it would be necessary to seize private-own farmland to upgrade the road. Besides, it would cost around K 55.5 million to construct two 80 ft long bridges and five wooden bridges on the road, reaching a total cost of K661.5 million, he said.
Thayatchaung Township DAD was constructing the distance of two miles of Rin-kanatthiri earth road and the distance of one mile of Nyaungzin-Sawbya gravel road at the cost of K 48 million funded by the State, he said.
The upgrading of the old road passing through Kyaukhlegar, Sawbya, padatchaung and Taungzin would benefit the areas than construction of Kyaukhlegar-Taungzin new road, and a distance of two miles of road section between Sawbya and Padatchaung would be upgraded to a gravel one in the 2012-2013 fiscal year and the remaining sections would be upgraded year by year.
Afterwards, two representatives asked questions related the education sector and Deputy Minister for Education U Aye Kyu replied the questions.
Dr Tin Shwe of Yangon Region constituency No 6 asked whether the ministry to transfer teachers working in other areas to their residential townships.
Deputy Minister U Aye Kyu replied that the Ministry of Education had been taking measures related to yearly transfer of teachers including those who should be transferred due to their family and social conditions and those who had been serve their duties for one or two years in specific areas.
With respect to the question of U Zung Hlei Htang of Chin State Constituency No.2 on “ there is any plan to upgrade the post primary school in Htalanyaw village in Falam Township into middle school (branch)” Deputy Minister for Education U Aye Kyu said that for more education opportunity, Ministry of Education is upgrading of schools and opening of new schools for four years project starting 2012-2013 Academic year. There are 372 post primary schools in which a total of more than 150 middle level students are pursuing their education. Post primary school in Htalanyaw village in Falam Township has 49 middle level students only. So, there is no plan to upgrade to Basic Education Middle School (Branch) at present.
Regarding the question of U Thet Naing Oo of Bago Region Constituency No.6 on “does the Union government assign the duties to private companies and entrepreneurs for carrying out economic and social affairs in Region/ State or whether or not the Union government can do like so,” Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Dr Kan Zaw replied: with respect to the State’s economy, Chapter 8, Section 370 “Citizen, Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens in the 2008 Constitution states that Every Citizens has, in accord with the law, the right to conduct business freely in the Union, for national economic development.
Section 455 under Chapter 15 (General Provisions) in the 2008 Constitution says that the Government of the Union may in the interest of the Union, relating to any of the economic activity prescribed to be carried out only by the Government of the Union:
(a) permit the Region government or the State government to form a joint venture with the Government of the Union or to operate under terms and conditions;
(b) permit a co-operative organization, economic organization and an individual person to form a joint venture with the Government of the Union or to operate under terms and conditions Section 4 under Chapter (2) in Stateowned enterprise law prescribes that the government of the Union may in the interest of the Union, relating to any of the economic activity prescribed according to section 3 to be carried out only by the Government of the Union permit the government and any persons or any economic organization to form a joint venture with the Government of the Union or to operate under terms and conditions by issuing notice.
So, according to the Constitution, Myanmar citizens have the rights to engage in the State-owned enterprises. Ministry of Commerce has started setting up paddy specialized companies in townships since 2009 in coordination with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Myanmar Paddy Trading Association, Myanmar Beans and Pulses and Sesame Merchants Association, local authorities in region/State, local merchants and local farmers.
A total of 54 paddy specialized companies have been set up in Ayeyawady, Bago, Sagaing and Yangon Regions and Rakhine, Shan, Kayin and Mon States; 21 beams and pulses specialized companies in Ayeyawady, Bago, Magway and Yangon Regions; and one agriculture specialized company in Nay Pyi Taw. These companies are providing the farmers with strains, inputs and agricultural expenses and carrying out the distributions of farm equipment.
These companies are disbursing loan with two percent interest rate without buying farmlands from the farmers and doing farming themselves. In so doing, there have been no problems in every township such as removal and compensation.
There are no time limits on these companies. From agricultural production to sale, farmers, local merchants, machine owners, merchants and exporters, which include in supply chain mechanism, would carry out in harmony.
With respect to the social affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is giving green light to local private donors and entrepreneurs for opening of self-reliant preschools, volunteer primary night schools, youth development philanthropic center and homes for the aged in the Region/State, regardless of time limits.
Secretary of Amyotha Bill Committee U San Tun submitted the reports on amendment to Government Facade Act (eviction) (1955).
U Nyunt Tin of Yangon Region Constituency No. 2, Dr Tin Shwe of Yangon Region Constituency No. 6, U Htay Win (a) U Zayad Rawman of Rakhine State Constituency No.7, U Pe Thaung of Kachin State Constituency No. 6, U San Pyae of Kachin State Constituency No. 7, U Zaw Naing Oo of Mon State Constituency No. 12, Daw Khin Waing Kyi of Yangon Region Constituency No. 1, Dr Myint Kyi of Yangon Region Constituency No. 8, U Hla Swe of Magway Region Constituency No. 12 and Dr Myat Nyana Soe of Yangon Region Constituency No. 4 discussed the proposal submitted by U Myint Tun of Bago Region Constituency No. 10 “urging the Union government to copy preferable systems of some foreign countries to make government departments and staff reliable by the public in order to support formation of Clean Government and Good Governance”. They discussed: Bribery brings about high commodity prices, inflation, moral dilemmas, misconducts for life improvement and downfall in personality. The issue of civil servants must be addressed through combined efforts. The solution is reducing the current workforce of civil servants. The government has to grant full pensions and create job opportunities for those who are made redundant. As the government mechanism is running on collected tax, the tax levying system should be more thorough. If the government could block loopholes of tax, decent salary and profits can be paid to the staff from the increased earnings. Transparency will curb bribery. It is needed to form anti-bribery commission with scholars and experienced persons at home and abroad. In seeking remedial measures, the systems of developed countries should be copied.
Union Minister at President Office U Soe Maung said: It is the time the democratic government elected by the people is making all-out efforts to bring about all-round development to the country. The civil servants play a key role in this attempt. The Union government is systematically supervising capacity building, improvement of attitude and morale building of government staff.
I myself met heads of government staff from Union ministries on 6-5-2011 and directed them to discharge duties under rules and regulations and existing laws for emergence of Good Governance and Clean Government as guided by the President.
Six departments at Central Institute of Civil Service are training government staff to improve their skills, have the right attitude and accomplishing duties.
Basic courses for officers are also opened to improve their skills in order to cope with changes of the age. Workshops and courses for capacity building of civil servants were conducted in cooperation with ASEAN member countries, UN agencies, and international organizations. ASEAN Resource Center for Training for Civil Service was opened in 2004 and training courses are being conducted. The Union Civil Service Board has distributed copies of office manual to various ministries and organizations in order to carry out office work effectively and correctly.
In choosing gazetted officers, written examinations, psychological tests and interviews, finalized choosing and training at central institutes for civil service are being carried out with a view to ensuring loyalty to the State, serving the public interest, promoting moral and morality and increasing work knowledge and professional skills.
Measures are also being taken for civil servants to become good and qualified personnel by publishing civil service rules journal-1984, civil service rules enforcement manual-1985 and civil servants’ code of ethics-2004. Assistance measures for the work of civil servants are being taken in accord with the civil service rules.
Moreover, action is taken against service personnel who break laws and rules, lack moral conducts, shirk their duties and violate departmental rules and orders in accord with the nine kinds of punishment prescribed in the civil service rules enforcement. Such measures are being taken for service personnel to be able to live in discipline, for ensuring that punishment is deservedly done according to the crime committed, for ensuring that any punishment leading to demoralization is not done and enabling them to be able to work harder for wellbeing of their own departments after they have been punished.
Moreover, letters of suggestion, complaint and appeal regarding any inconvenience and dissatisfaction between the public and service personnel can be submitted directly to the President, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission or Letters of Complaint and Appeal Committee in the Amyotha Hluttaw. In connection with those letters, the President of the Union Government assigns duty to the Union Minister at the President Office to take systematic supervision measures.
To ensure good governance and clean government, the Ministry of President Office scrutinized 3200 out of 7869 letters of complaint submitted during the period from 5-4-2011 to 29-2-2012. The remaining are 2085 letters, some of which lack set standards and some of which are submitted repeatedly, and 2584 letters under scrutiny. Continued measures are being taken to take action for the scrutinized letters in accord with the motto ‘No one is above the law and everyone is equal before the law. Some letters, after being scrutinized, were also found to be aimed at harming the character of service personnel and manufacturing fabrications with intent to disrupt the systematic performance of personnel. Accordingly, warnings had to be given against those letters.
In the future, action will be taken against such cases. Anyone who lodges a complaint letter must give his signature, name, citizenship scrutiny card number, contact address and phone number. If not, such a letter will be regarded as lack of set standards.
Occasional measures are being taken to grant service personnel from respective departments rights and privileges, awards for working overtime and contributions made by wellwishers. As for discipline, if there is any inconvenience in departments that have direct contact with the public, officers or responsible persons can be met in person or letters of suggestion can be put into mail boxes which can be seen at ministries, banks, post offices, electric bill departments, hospitals, bus stands, seaports, rail stations, airports.
Measures are also being taken to distribute free civil servants’ cod of ethics manuals, to hold seminars, talks and examinations and to conduct advanced onjob training courses at the ministries. With democracy more mature, the government is trying to win the trust and reliance of the people by taking all possible reform measures and promoting the skills of personnel. The Hluttaw decided to approve the proposal and announced to enlist representatives for discussion.
Dr Myat Nyana Soe of Yangon Region Constituency-4 submitted the proposal urging the Union government to establish emergency rescue units as car accidents are happening on Yangon-Mandalay Highway causing lots of deaths. An MP seconded it. The Hluttaw agreed to discuss it and announced to enlist representatives for discussion.
Dr Aye Maung of Rakhine State Constituency-1 submitted the proposal urging the Union government to make sure that the duties, authority and rights, facilities and salary rates of civil servants meet with the international, regional and ASEAN standards by abolishing some departmental organizations, reducing and extending the size of some organizations and forming some organizations. A representative seconded it.
The Hluttaw agreed to discuss it and announced to enlist representatives for discussion. Today’s session was concluded and the 14th day session will be held tomorrow.
At the session, 10 questions were raised and answered, one report read, one proposal discussed and approved and three new proposals submitted.