State Administration Council Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses Council meeting 12/2021

Nay Pyi Taw     June 7

The State Administration Coun-cil held the 12/2021 meeting at the meeting hall of the SAC Chairman’s Office in Nay Pyi Taw this morning, with an address by State Admini-stration Council Chairman Com-mander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Also present at the meeting were Vice Chairman of the Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Council members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Thein Nyunt, U Khin Maung Swe, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, U Moung Har, U Sai Lone Hsai, Saw Daniel, Dr Banya Aung Moe, Lt-Gen Soe Htut and U Shwe Kyein, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway and Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo.

In his speech, the Senior General said the Council has taken State responsibilities for more than four months but has been facing progress as well as some challenges. On recent days, peaceful and tranquil moves of local people were seen in Mon and Kayin states where the Senior General paid visits. During the visit, local people were delighted with renaming the Thanlwin Bridge (Chaungzon). Moreover, instruc-tions were given to officials from states to provide assistance to local farmers to have local food suffici-ency and surplus to increase income and systematically cultivate the cops for raising the pre-acre yield of crops. Citizens should not be consoled with ordinary develop-ment for their lives, and they need to set missions and visions for carrying out the tasks in a good way for improvement of socio-economic lives.

The financial year of the State was set by previous government from 1 October to 30 September. Being an agro-based country, Myanmar’s financial year was set depending on yield of crops and taxes. As the financial year term was changed, the government, businesspersons and farmers were not convenient in work process. So, Council members need to discuss the amendment of the financial year in conformity with the country.

With regard to outbreak of COVID-19, the infectious rate rise up now. Infeciton is seen in nor-thern Chin State, western Sagaing Region and Taninthayi Region. So, some townships in Chin State were enlisted in the stay-at-home pro-gramme. People need to abide by the COVID-19 restrictions. It is necessary specially supervise the students and teachers to follow the restrictions of COVID-19 not to cause infection.

Regarding education, some schools could not have opened, mostly in Sagaing Region. The aim of reopening schools is in the in-terests of the country and individual students. Arrangements are also being made for private schools to reopen. 

There are still a few protests and riots in regions and states. Terrorist attacks are still being carried out on schools, administrative buildings and those facing personal grudge.

As monsoon has come with good rainwater, especially in areas with got less rainfall, growers are work-ing on their farms conveniently. To prevent natural disasters such as flooding and strong wind, officials need to raise awareness in their respective regions and states to take measures for unblocking streams, drains and ditches and clearing dangerous tree branches. Prepared-ness measures can reduce natural disasters to a certain extent. The national disaster management committees formed in regions and states must take prompt rescue and relief measures if any disaster befalls their regions, the Senior General said.  

He then recounted the discus-sions with the Brunei Foreign Minister, the special envoy of the ASEAN alternate chairman, and ASEAN Secretary-General on 4 June about COVID-19 preventive measures, the absence of remarks by any country including ASEAN countries on the avoidance of terrorism included in the ASEAN common consent in connection with the current terrorist acts and bomb attacks committed by the organizations and terrorist groups related to unlawful CRPH and NUG in Myanmar, erroneous voter lists of the 2020 multiparty general election and findings, holding of election after the restoration of peace and stability in the nation and Myanmar’s cooperation in humanitarian aid programs and the interview with Phoenix Media.

Then, members of the council U Thein Nyunt, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Khin Maung Swe, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, U Moung Har and U Shwe Kyein reported on launching investigations into and taking action against corruption in breach of the cons-titution, taking effective actions against people who support and allow terrorists to stay with them in accordance with the law, imple-menting the public security system with the participation of the public, taking measures to fulfil the edible oil need of the country, implement-ing the industrial zone in Htikee, forming a media development organization to make rapid and effective responses to spreading fake news on the social media, matters related to reforms in desig-nating public holidays and financial years, electricity supply for the country, resumption of hydropower dam projects that have little impact on the environment, reopening of accountant and lawyer diploma courses, providing funds for social relief tasks in regions and nurturing athletes who are loyal to the country and possess ethics of good citizens.

Afterwards, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway explained the desi-gnation of public holidays in cal-endars for respective years and changes in designation of financial years.

Then, members of the council U Thein Nyunt, Dr Banya Aung Moe and Daw Aye Nu Sein made suggestions on redesignation of financial years.

After hearing the reports, the Senior General said that the redesi-gnation of public holidays should not hurt employers, employees and staff in the interest of the people while the designation of financial years should reflect the reality of the country. Members of the council are required to take what should be done into consideration together.

As for corruption, action will be taken against corruption cases that violate mandates and effective action is being taken against terrorism for the rule of law in accordance with the law. Investigations will be launched into threats against govern-ment employees by staff who are involved in the CDM movement and those who are threatened are required to report it to relevant authorities.

To have adequate edible oil for domestic consumption, it is needed to expand cultivation of edible crops -- groundnut, sesame, niger, sun-flower, and soybean -- for enabling the people to enjoy sufficiency in domestic consumption and consume quality edible oil. Plans are needed to be made for applying advanced technology in milling the edible crops. It is also needed to systema-tically use by-products from milled groundnut and sesame as animal feed.

Regarding the electricity sector, it is to discourage a power system with use of fuel to be able to meet electricity demand of regions and states. It is just needed to implement production of power generated from renewable energy. In doing so, it is needed to give priorities to make plans on ensuring 100 percent consumption of power supply in regions and states. Regarding information flow, cooperation is being made with private sector for ensuring speedy, strong response of the media.

With regard to industrial crops, it is needed to carry out tasks to be able to produce highly valuable items through expanding cultivation of cotton and bamboo. Encouragement is given to domestic industries. It is needed to establish small industries in regions and states.

It is required to carry out tasks for all the people, who contributed to the interests of the State, including athletes who brought honour to the State, to enjoy guarantee of life. Regarding security of basic education schools, security personnel are making scrupulous efforts. It is important that all the people are to cooperate in taking security mea-sures.