22 February 2012—The 13th day session of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting continued at Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Hall of the Hluttaw Building here at 10 am today, attended by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Aung Myint and 542 Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives.
At the meeting, one proposal and one bill were discussed; one bill put on record; one bill clarified and; one bill submitted. First, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker submitted the message sent by the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker. In his message, he said that the third regular session of the first
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw was very important session for Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and historic meeting for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar as well. It was the third regular session that would approve the national plans of the State and would promulgate the budget laws, he added.
The representatives of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw led by the Speaker were responsible to make decisions in accordance with laws, considering that they had a duty to set an example during the transition period for the future generation, he said. His proposal and presentation to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on 7 February, 2012, were unanimously supported by representatives, and however, on behalf of the President, Union ministers presented their clarification to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on 16 February, 2012, saying that salary increases for governmental employees would not be easy due to current circumstances though it should be done and salaries for those government employees who were assigned to far-flung areas would be increased, he added. Their presentations meant that
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw was obliged to agree, permit and promulgate laws in accordance with the plans and projects presented by the executive body and measures would be taken in accordance with the law enacted by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, he said in his message.
The legislation is the main duty of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and committees and commissions concerned were to monitor whether responsible personnel and bodies carried out tasks in accordance with the law or not, he added. Therefore, legislative bodies were obliged to monitor and carry out assessments of the plans and projects in the interests of the people and the State as part of efforts for helping spending the public finances in systematic and correct ways, and the work should be considered as an important one and should be done thoroughly at a time when the Hluttaw was being convened, he said. The Union Government was obliged to spend the money collected due to the assessment in salary and wage increases for the service personnel for their livelihood, he said.
In his message, he also clarified wages earned by labour in Nay Pyi Taw.
(a) A hard labour who starts work earns K2000 per day, reaching K60,000 per month.
(b) A hard labour who has experiences from one to two years earns K3000 per day, reaching K90,000 per month.
(c) A hard labour who has experiences from two to three years earns K40,000 per day, reaching K120,000 per month.
(d) A hard labour who has experiences from three to four or five years earns K5000 per day, reaching K150,000 per month.
Therefore, minimum salary and wages of the service personnel should be around K100,000 per month when the State had sufficient budget, he suggested, and a personnel who got around K100,000 per month as a salary should earn K80,000/K90,000 per month after giving tax and salary for service personnel should be increased as possible if the Union government was tight with its budget. He also suggested that to set a minimum salary or wage for a service personnel, out of plans and projects presented by the executive body of the State, some plans and projects that should not be implemented currently should be rejected and suspended and allowed to work in low volume. It was found that money could be saved if the union government handed over plans and projects that should not be implemented by the union government to the private sectors under FDI, PPP and suspended the plans and projects that should be suspended and the salary increases could be done to a certain percent in the upcoming 2012-2013 fiscal year if the money were injected to the salary payment for the service personnel, he said.
Those plans were industrial development project and Nay Pyi Taw development project and more plans and projects could be found when assessment were made, he added. Besides, unnecessary expenses should be reduced, he said. To increase revenue, he also urged the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to encourage the tax law and tax system to increase the income from tax, to help the people earning income, wages and salaries so that they can pay tax to the State and to introduce laws related to taxation as soon as possible, he suggested. If the people’s representatives carried out assessment to the public finances and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw carried out assessment the projects in which Public finances should not be spent unnecessarily, salary increases for the service personnel could be made to a certain extent. The good service personnel shaped the good government, and only the good government would benefit the State and people, and when the service personnel enjoyed the recognition of the legislative body and executive body, they would become good service personnel with moralities who could support for the national building. And it would help the country to overcome the challenges in the future and help the work for creating the Clean Government, Good Governance as soon as possible, promising the good future of the country, he said.
In conclusion, he urged Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to carry out assessment to the national plans and projects and the Union Budget Bill presented by the Union Government in the interests of the people and the State for bringing the pride to the State, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and representatives of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. At the proposal discussion session, regarding the
proposal on “ adopting National Transport Network Policy that can cover the whole country, drafting of new projects after carrying out detailed examinations—whether or not new projects are beneficial, whether or not it can actually benefit people and whether or not it can meet the expectations, and urging the Union Government to publicize the allocation of money to respective projects for transparency” submitted by U Sai Thiha Kyaw of Mongyal Constituency on 13 February and discussed by 10 representatives, U Ye Htut Tin of Phahsaung Constituency discussed that if people have come to know that the projects being implemented with the contribution of public taxes benefit them , and then people’s trust would be won and more taxes could be collected.
With respect to that proposal, Union Minister for Transport U Nyan Tun Aung said: Construction of Transport Network in Myanmar is a must. The Ministry’s policy is that construction is to be based on Efficient Transport Network system and demand and supply concept. Civil aviation has been equipped with airplanes and airfields. But, these are like construction materials are piled up. The network would emerge only after these are systematically formed, which bring reasonable benefits to the Ministry and airlines. Reasonably-priced services can be offered to the consumers. Water transport is the same. At the current condition, Transport Network can not be constructed. Construction of Transport Network is not only a must but also needs to be already-existed one. It is essential for the State’s transport sector. The President has already assigned the duties to construct it in order that people can have easy access to one place to another in short period of times and at low cost. U Sai Thiha Kyaw’s proposal is essential for every country. And it is on the ministry’s high agenda and is appropriate. Likewise, Union Minister for Rail Transportation U Aung Min said: establishing transport sector needs feasibility study for benefits. In addition, it needs to take into consideration other factors—technology, economical scale, region’s economic, health, education, regional development and environmental impacts. Based on the report, projects and places that pass through are to be designated after conducting survey in all aspects.
In strategic matters, the country’s current political, economic, social and defence conditions are to be taken into account. In addition, decisions about transport lines that would link other countries and important transport lines that are crucial for the country’s home and abroad political affairs, are to be made from the strategic angle. With a view to enabling transport line become an economic platform, establishment of model agricultural zone, model farm zone and model economic zone, conducting vocational courses, inviting trade, investment and companies and businesses from home and abroad, setting up of bank and insurance companies, providing assistances for enhancing comparative capacities and basic mechanisms, are being carried out. The proposal does not need discussing because it is accord with the process. It is natural that the allocation of money to respective projects is publicized through media for transparency.
Deputy Minister for Construction U Soe Tint said: Myanmar is going to have extensive relations with the global world in harmony with current political system. Standards of Union roads crossing the country which link other countries are to be like those of neighboring countries. Priority is given to main union roads linking regions and states for swift flow of commodities. Ministry of Construction is implementing road networks in accord with basic principles in constructing roads and bridges, which are the basic infrastructures for harmonious development of the country. Road network system of a country is to be drafted based on many factors. It needs to consider indexes such as economical scale, international relations etc. Sometime, even though it does not bring benefits to the country, amity of national races, regional development and not lagging far behind are to be taken into consideration. I approved the proposal. The proposal was approved with yes vote. Regarding Village-tract Administration Bill, Hluttaw representatives discussed remarks of the President and the Hluttaw sought approval paragraph-wise. Regarding Paragraph (7) (c) of Chapter (4) of the bill, comment of the President is, “Regarding the amendment to the bill submitted by the ministry replacing the phrase ‘by straw poll’ with ‘by secret ballot’, election of the representative of ten-house groups by straw poll is election by plenary meeting and will choose qualified representative. This basic level election pattern will lessen stuffs to do, prevent from unnecessary administration incidents and reduce costs. It will also avoid further complications caused by ballot. It should be kept as in the original.” Remark of the Joint Bill Committee is to keep as approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, “Respective breadwinners of ten households in the ten-house group shall elect one person who satisfies set requirements from dwellers of the group by secret ballot and submit the name and curriculum vitae of the representative elect.”
U Man Kan Nyunt of Kayin State Constituency (2) seconded the remark of the President. U Aung Thein of Ywangan Constituency and U Tun Aung Kyaw of Ponnagyun Constituency discussed in favour of the comment of the Joint Bill Committee. Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Ko Ko proposed the vote on the paragraph. As there are more votes against the proposal, “the part of the bill should be as in remark of the President”, the bill was approved as first approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. Regarding Paragraph (29) of Chapter (13) of the bill, the remark of the President is, “Since the bill prescribes, ‘Expenses of ward or village-tract administrator’s offices shall be paid from commission earned on taxes on farmlands as an income in ratio’, wards and villages with no farmland will face difficulties.” The amendment of the Joint Bill Committee based on the President’s remark is, “To enable ward or village-tract administrator’s offices bear expenses, reasonable fund for respective township shall be allotted in yearly budget.” U Aung Thein of Ywangan Constituency and U Tun Aung Kyaw of Ponnagyun Constituency seconded the amendment of the Joint Bill Committee. Union Minister Lt-Gen Ko Ko gave his consent for the amendment. As there are more votes for the proposal, “the amendment of the Joint Bill Committee should be part of the bill”, it was approved. Regarding Paragraph (30) of Chapter (13) of the bill, the comment of the President is, “Since the bill prescribes, ‘If income does not meet office expenses, fund shall be requested from township administrator’, the township administrator could allow the fund only when he/she has permission to allow it from the fund of the State.” The amendment of the Joint Bill Committee based on the President’s remark is, “The fund allotted under paragraph (29) shall be acquired from township administrator by ward or village-tract administrator and used systematically.” U Aung Thein of Ywangan Constituency and U Tun Aung Kyaw of Ponnagyun Constituency seconded the amendment of the Joint Bill Committee. Union Minister Lt-Gen Ko Ko gave his consent for the amendment.
As there are more votes for the proposal, “the amendment of the Joint Bill Committee should be part of the bill”, it was approved. Regarding Paragraph (31) of Chapter (13) of the bill, although the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approved it as, “Ward or village-tract administrator shall report expenses to township administrator”, the Joint Bill Committee canceled the paragraph to be in accordance with the amended paragraphs (29) and (30) of the Chapter (13). As the proposal obtained more yeses, the Hluttaw cancelled the paragraph. The Joint Bill Committee considered that the undertakings in 2011-2012 fiscal year National Plan Bill are completed ones or under way; it will be more appropriate that the Hluttaw should record it, rather than approve it, and let the works continue. The Hluttaw put the bill on record. Member of the Joint Bill Committee Dr Myat Nyana Soe made clarification on procedures and features to be included in discussion and approving the Budget Bill of the Union under Pyidaungsu Hluttaw rules. Secretary of the Joint Bill Committee U Saw Hla Tun made clarification on findings and remarks of the committee on 2012 Additional Budget Allotment Bill of the Union and Union Minister for Finance and Revenue U Hla Tun submitted the proposal to discussed these at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The proposal was approved unanimously. U Soe Tha of Twantay Constituency, U Zaw Myint Pe of Mandalay Region Constituency (5), U Ohn Tin of Rakhine State Constituency (10), U Kyi Tha of Gwa Constituency and Dr Aye Maung of Rakhine State Constituency (1) discussed policies and fundamental aspects of the bill. Today’s Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session concluded at 3.55 pm and the session continued for 14th day at 10 am on 23 February.