This Week in Parliament (September 19-23)
By The Irrawaddy 24 September 2016
In the Lower House, U Khin Zaw of Kawthaung Township asked if the government planned to update The Police Act of 1945.
The Lower House debated the bill to amend the Ward or Village Tract Administration Law.
In the Upper House, U J Yaw Wu of Kachin State Constituency 1 asked about government actions against illegal logging in Kachin State on the Sino-Burma border.
Tuesday, September 20
The Ministry of Finance and Planning submitted the “Burma Investment Bill” to the Lower House and the bill committee put forward its report on the draft law.
Lawmakers debated the “Bill to Protect Citizens’ Privacy and Security” submitted by the bill committee.
The Upper House approved the bill to amend the Civil Service Law.
The Union Parliament approved the proposal to get loans from the ADB and the French Development Agency for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Sports.
Wednesday, September 21
In the Lower House, U Kyaw Aung Lwin of Sidoktaya Township submitted a proposal calling on the Union government to take prompt action to care for abused and exploited Burmese migrant workers in foreign countries in cooperation with concerned governments. The Lower House approved discussion of the proposal.
The Upper House passed the bill to annul the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act. The bill had already been approved by the Lower House.
Thursday, September 22
U Htay Win Aung of Daw Pone Township submitted an urgent proposal to the Lower House to take action against the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) for their insufficient handling of a high-profile abuse case against two underage domestic workers. Parliament decided to debate the proposal.
Parliament approved discussion of the proposal submitted by U Than Nyunt of Pyu Township which urged the Union government to bring the country’s rail transportation sector up to an international level.
In the Upper House, U Kyaw Thiha of Mandalay Division (12) submitted a bill to amend the Myanmar Gemstones Law for debate.
Friday, September 23
Dr. U Maung Thin of Meiktila Township, submitted a proposal to the Lower House calling on the Union government to organize an inclusive seminar on basic education that enables people from of all walks of life to give their input and feedback in order to design a comprehensive basic education law. Parliament approved discussion of the bill.
In the Upper House, U Aung Thein of Pegu Division (12) asked if the Union government would relax some provisions in the Myanmar Citizenship Law to enable Burmese expatriates to return to the country. Minister for Labor, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe replied that since 2013, the government has issued appropriate ID cards for 143 of 198 Burmese expat applicants and that from January 2015 to August 2016, the permanent residency system management committee and central work committee formed by the President’s Office have issued permanent residency certificates to 264 of 319 applicants. The two committees have been reconstituted by the new government.
In the Union Parliament, lawmakers debated the bill to amend the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, over which the two houses have differing views. Further action will be taken in line with Parliament’s laws and regulations to pass the bill.
