This Week in Parliament

By The Irrawaddy 16 February 2019

Monday (Feb. 11)

During debate on a report by the Joint Public Accounts Committee on the 2017-18 fiscal year Union Parliament development funds, Chin State lawmaker U Hui Ten proposed that a greater share of the pot go to less developed states with large ethnic minority populations. While the Union Parliament grants each township 100 million kyats ($65,401) for infrastructural projects, he said there remain huge gaps between regions such as Yangon and Mandalay and states such as Chin and Rakhine.

Tuesday (Feb. 12)

Parliament did not convene in observance of Union Day.

Wednesday (Feb. 13)

During debate on a proposal from lawmaker U Sein Mya Aye that the government promote youth sports to combat drug use, military-appointed lawmakers suggested the government adopt a national sports law. They said that promoting sports could save the public health system millions by cutting down on the need for treatment.

Thursday (Feb. 14)

The Union Solidarity and Development Party put forward a bill to amend Article 261 of the Constitution that would, if approved, see regional chief ministers elected by local legislatures rather than appointed by the president.

Upper House lawmaker U Tun Tun Oo complained about the conditions of prisons in Myanmar, saying that inmates were losing their rights because of overcrowding and that correctional authorities were too overstretched to regulate the prisons properly. Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Maj. Gen. Aung Thu replied that the ministry has been building new cells, wards and prisons.

Friday (Feb. 15)

The Lower House approved amendments to the Myanmar Engineering Council Law. The council is a regulatory body for engineering professionals in Myanmar.