This Week in Parliament

By The Irrawaddy 8 September 2018

Monday (Sept. 3)

In the Union Parliament, lawmaker U Tin Tun Naing grilled the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation about the fatal dam burst in Bago Region on Aug. 29.

Tuesday (Sept. 4)

During debate on the national planning draft law and the Union budget for fiscal 2018-19, lawmaker U Ye Htut called on the government to abandon unrealistic projects, citing planned subway, elevated highway, and new city projects in Yangon Region.

Wednesday (Sept. 5)

Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Aung Thu warned the public of possible dam breaks, saying the spillways of 57 dams across the country were submerged and at risk of breach.

Thursday (Sept. 6)

Proposals by lawmaker Nan Kham Aye that the Union Parliament and Lower House take urgent steps to de-escalate fighting in ethnic regions in order to protect civilians were rejected for debate.

In the Union Parliament, Union Information Minister Dr. Pe Myint said state-owned media were too weak to counter biased international media reports, adding that it was a huge loss for the country.

“The international media are too big. State-owned media and other media in Myanmar are too small. This is because [local media] were intended to serve as a bridge between the government and the people,” the minister said.

Friday (Sept. 7)

In the Lower House, Dr. U Sein Mya Aye of Dala Township asked about the causes of delays in building the Yangon-Dala Bridge. Deputy Construction Minister U Kyaw Lin said his ministry was still in the process of negotiating US$20 million in loans from the Korean government to construct the bridge. He said construction would start in December.