Myanmar legislators to meet on telecommunications law
MYANMAR’S PARLIAMENT is expected to discuss Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law on January 30, chairman Zaw Min of the Upper House’s bill committee said.
on Monday.“Laws are important. This time it’s interesting as the section was suggested for discussion by the Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues to discuss,” Zaw Min said on Monday.
“It’s likely to be discussed at the Parliament this time.”
The Telecommunications Law has been criticised for infringing freedom of expression on social media outlets, following defamation lawsuits against bloggers, journalists and politicians under the section.
The Upper House has about 15 bills remaining to be discussed; it has already discussed 33 bills. Out these, 16 have been signed and approved by the president.
“They include a gems law. It has attracted a lot of attention. The country also needs it. Meetings were already made for the law. Section 66(d) is also important,” he said.
The fourth regular session of the second union, lower house and upper house parliaments will resume on January 30.
According to MPs, the coming parliamentary session will mainly focus on the National Planning Bill, Union Taxation Bill and Union Budget Bill for fiscal 2018.
“Currently, we will mainly discuss the BE budget and other bills. We will have to deal with the 10 remaining bills, which have yet to be finalised from the previous session.
“We cannot discuss many things as there are only a few days left due to the Thingyan (water) festival,” said Kyaw Soe Lin, secretary of the Lower House Bill Committee.
Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than said on the final day of the previous session, on December 20, that the National Planning Bill, Union Taxation Bill, Union Budget Bill and other bills would be approved at the next regular session of the union parliament.
