This Week in Parliament (June 12 – 16)
By The Irrawaddy 17 June 2017
Monday (June 12)
Lower House Speaker U Win Myint urged the government to return inactive lands, once confiscated for development projects, to the original owners, in response to a lawmaker question about the issue in Naypyidaw.
The Lower House also approved discussion of a proposal from Lewe Township lawmaker U Myo Zaw Oo that encouraged the Union government to provide insurance on crops for farmers against floods and pests.
In the Upper House, lawmakers discussed a proposal from Dr. Tin Tin Win, representing Pegu Division (5), which recommended that the government incorporate the subjects of reproductive health, civic education and democracy into the curriculum of high schools and colleges. The Upper House recorded his proposal.
Tuesday (June 13)
In response to frequent seizures of counterfeit 10,000-kyat notes, Lower House Zabuthiri Township lawmaker U Phyo Zeyar Thaw asked a question about the problem of counterfeit banknotes in the country. U Soe Min, vice governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) said that police were cracking down on counterfeit bills, and that the bank was improving the security levels and quality of banknotes.
Lawmakers in the Upper House inquired about regional development works in their respective constituencies.
Wednesday (June 14)
Hlinebwe Township lawmaker U Khin Cho, of the Lower House, had his proposal recorded, which urged the Union government to make systematic approaches and plans to reduce the unemployment rate of the country.
There was no Upper House session on this day.
Thursday (June 15)
U Yan Lin, Kyaiklat Township lawmaker in the Lower House, urged the Union government to include consumer education in the seventh, eighth, and ninth grade curriculum in order to increase public awareness of food safety and drugs in the market. The proposal was recorded.
In Upper House, U Ko Ko Naing of Sagaing Constituency (8) asked if the health ministry would recruit exclusive doctors, nurses and health staff for Myanmar’s 66 prisons. Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Aung Soe said that Ministry of Health is short of doctors and that the Home Affairs Ministry would appoint doctors and nurses on its own. According to U Ko Ko Naing, the doctor-patient ratio in prisons is currently just 1 to 7,000.
Friday (June 16)
In the Lower House, U Kyaw Aung Lwin of Sidoktaya Township asked if the Union government would find foreign markets willing to pay higher prices for the agricultural products of Myanmar farmers. Deputy Commerce Minister U Aung Htoo said his ministry was taking steps to penetrate new markets in Europea, Africa, and Asia, as well as implementing a medium-term trade promotion plan.
Lawmakers in the Upper House asked further questions related to regional development in their constituencies.
