Parliament Weighs Election Bill, Farmland Rule Amendments

The Amyotha Hluttaw continued its 21st meeting at the Amyotha Hluttaw meeting hall of the Hluttaw Complex in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy U Aye Kyaw replied to the queries raised by MP U Win Tint from the Sagaing Region Constituency 4 and MP U Sein Shwe Min from the Magway Region Constituency 4. He stated that depending on the prevailing security situation in each area, departmental staff are carrying out meter reading, delivering electricity bills, arranging for the distribution of electricity bills with the assistance of local community leaders, and collecting electricity charges. The department will continue its efforts to ensure that actual meter readings accurately correspond to the electricity charges billed. The Sagaing Township Electrical Engineer Office has opened three payment counters daily (including public holidays) to collect electricity charges. In addition, electricity bills can be paid through officially registered mobile financial service providers such as KBZ Pay, UAB Pay, CB Pay, and OK$ Pay starting from 13 June 2025.
He explained that the Minbu Township Development Affairs Committee will prioritize and submit a proposal for the installation of a 56-kilowatt solar power system at the Aungmyay water pumping station of the Kyaungtan Water Pumping Station, with an estimated cost of K336 million, to be implemented in the 2030-2031 financial year, subject to the availability of funds in the respective financial years.
Lawmakers discussed the seventh amendment to the Amyotha Hluttaw Election Bill. They emphasized discussions that the automatic invalidation of the election of a proportional representation (PR) Hluttaw representative upon the dissolution of a political party is controversial and would be unfair if the representative concerned has not personally committed any violation of the law.
Revoking the right of Hluttaw representatives to retain their positions under the Political Parties Registration Law is inconsistent with the rights of small ethnic parties and the legislative authority derived from the support of voters.
A new provision should be added after Section 8 (c) of the original law as Subsection (d), stipulating that a candidate contesting for election as a Hluttaw representative must have been continuously residing in the constituency in which he or she will contest for at least one year before the election.
As there are still some townships that remain under emergencies at present, the proposed law’s qualifications for Hluttaw representatives are not in line with the current circumstances. Therefore, it is requested that the provisions remain as stipulated in the original law.
During the election campaign period, the term “political parties” stated in the heading of Section 30-a of the Amyotha Hluttaw Election Law be replaced with the term “members of political parties” to provide a more precise reference. As such, the provision should not be restricted only to central executive committee members of political parties.
The Speaker stated that the Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee will hear discussions of the Hluttaw Representatives.
Lawmakers also discussed the seventh amendment to the Region or State Hluttaw Election Bill. The Speaker announced that the Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee will hear discussions of the Hluttaw Representatives.
Lawmakers continued their debates on the motion submitted by MP U Myo Thant from the Ayeyawady Region Constituency 6, urging the government to amend Rules 103, 104, 106 (a), (b) and (f), and Rule 112 (a) of Chapter XII of the Farmland Rules, 2012, issued under Notification 2/2012.
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker U Aung Lin Dwe stated that the 22nd day meeting will feature the discussions of remaining lawmakers, replies of Union-level organization members and decisions of the Hluttaw on 27 July.
The Amyotha Hluttaw will continue on 27 July. — MNA/TTA