Nay Pyi Taw December 21
Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with departmental officials, local elders, and MSME entrepreneurs from Pyay District, Bago Region, at Sri Kestra Yadana Town Hall in Pyay this morning and discussed regional development.
Also present at the meeting together with the Senior General were SSPC Secretary General Ye Win Oo, union ministers, Bago Region Chief Minister U Myo Swe Win, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Southern Command commander and officials, and district and township level officials, local elders, and MSME entrepreneurs from Pyay District.
Reports on regional points and requirements for development of the region
First, the Pyay District administrator reported on points of the region, progress in realizing the directives of the Head of State, development under-takings in the district, task to beautify Pyay, development of MSMEs in the district, agriculture and livestock undertakings, efforts to meet the crop targets, setting zones for the success of the livestock undertakings, MSME operations, pro-duction and distribution of goods, education promotion activities in the district and efforts to maintain the number of students from the lower to higher grades, preparation for the success of the coming multi-party democracy general election, and the State’s support for further improving the road transport sector in the district.
The region chief minister presented a supplementary report on realization of the crop target in the district, and success of garden crops, efforts for the edible oil crops to hit the target, food sufficiency in the district, extension of irrigation capacity in the district, test cultivation of Paw-hsan-hmwe rice to find new export markets, oil crop cultivation and oil sufficiency, production, consumption and degree of sufficiency of meat, eggs, milk in the district, fish farming, production and sufficiency, the need to employ more education staff in the required places of the Region.
Local elders, on behalf of the local people, thanked the State for upgrading the sections of the Strand Road in Pyay, and asked for assistance to develop tourism of Pyay, upgrading the railroad, more loans from the State for development of MSMEs in the district, further acceleration of counternarcotic campaigns, providing policy guidelines for continuous progress of local cooking oil production industry and gaining more markets as the policies and directives have been observed for uninterrupted progress of the business, and presented the requirements for upgrading public restrooms and regional development.
Clarifications of union ministers
Regarding the reports, the union ministers, Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Tin Oo Lwin, U Min Naung and U Ko Ko Lwin, explained ministry-wise endeavours, ongoing activities for peace, stability and rule of law in the whole country and administrative functions, number of crimes occurred in Bago Region during the time from 2021 to this date, and the year-wise decrease in crime rate, the ongoing nationwide counter narcotics campaigns that call for public involvement, security reinforcements for the success of the coming multi-party democracy general election, the collective participation in the people-centered security operations, ongoing activities for progress of Sri Kestra, systemization of its area, transportation facilitation, development of service and tourism businesses, restoration of the moats at the ancient city, a world heritage site, means to reduce animal feed imports as a byproduct (pulp) of the cooking oil industry can be turned into fodder, upgrading of oil mills and avail-ability of State loans in accord with the rules, continued drilling and production of oil and gas in the area around Pyay, increase in its oil production, research on raising oil and gas production of Pyay mountain range oil producing zone, the existence of energy resources in the area around Pyay and the need to protect them. The region chief minister told local elders and entrepreneurs that the requirements will be fulfilled to the most possible degree at the earliest time, saying that the issues that needed the union level approval would be proceeded accordingly.
Providing additional discussions on the presentations
In response to the presentations, the Senior General stated that when they first took office, there was a shortage of education staff in the country because the majority had disloyally abandoned their workplaces. He noted that some education staff left their jobs due to being threatened, coerced, pressured, or influenced by political propaganda; therefore, the state gave them an opportunity by removing those who reported back from the list of workplace absentees. He emphasized that civil servants must be free from party politics and must serve their duties by clearly distinguishing between politics and national affairs. He added that education and health workers were the ones who abandoned their workplaces the most, and they had to overcome various difficulties and crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, violence resulting from political conflicts, and the shortage of education staff when schools reopened through various means. He stated that civil servants must be free from party politics and must clearly distinguish between politics and national affairs, noting that regarding the drug suppression efforts mentioned in the presentations, the state’s actively fighting against them. He emphasized that drug suppression can only succeed if the entire public participates alongside responsible organizations, and regarding the request to supervise the upgrading and cleanliness of public toilets, he noted that besides responsible staff, it’s necessary to have a society and community that knows how to live and use facilities with discipline. Therefore, he added that basic rules are being taught starting from basic education schools since national discipline begins there, and he concluded by saying that only if everyone works together to maintain good national discipline can they shape and build a clean, beautiful, and systematic region, city, and nation.
To promote the tourism sector
Afterwards, while discussing regional development matters, the Senior General stated that the tourism sector includes accommodation, transportation, services, and the sale of souvenirs, noting that pilgrimage travel is the most common form of domestic tourism. He emphasized that it’s necessary to attract tourists by implementing measures for regional development, cleanliness, beauty, and the provision of good services, adding that visitors to the region must be able to enjoy the local landmarks and scenic beauty with peace of mind and physical comfort. Therefore, he noted that every individual and house-hold must work to create a clean and tidy environment, while departmental officials must bring about regional beauty by systematically maintaining roads, bridges, and buildings according to their respective offices and departments. He stated that to ensure proper urban drainage, it’s necessary to clear away trash and think creatively about how to improve regional beauty, noting that locals also need to be disciplined and live according to established rules and laws. He emphasized that exceeding or failing to follow state-defined regulations creates limitations when implementing national development projects, though the state’s actively encouraging tourism development. He added that flourishing tourism leads to increased domestic spending, generates non-trade income, boosts product sales, and increases the circulation of service-related businesses. Ultimately, he noted that these factors will lead to the socio-economic development of both the region and the nation.
Encouraging domestic manufacturing industries based on agriculture and livestock
He stated that while they’ve been carrying out state duties, they’ve encouraged domestic manufacturing and worked to boost economic strength, emphasizing that we must promote domestic production in line with the slogan “Let us encourage production for prosperity of the Nation.” He noted that it’s essential to manufacture high-quality products, as exporting domestic goods can significantly strengthen the nation’s economy. He added that while successive governments have implemented numerous economic policies and guidelines for national development, some succeeded while others didn’t meet expectations, and he further explained that the country’s faced economic declines due to administrative weaknesses in political systems, economic sanctions, the emergence of black markets, the smuggling of natural resources, and climate change impacts.
Concerning the development of agriculture tasks, measures are being taken to meet the targeted goals per acre by conducting field research with farmers and fulfilling their needs. If targets are met, US$-8 billion more revenue will be generated. By making progress in manufacturing agricultural and livestock breeding products, the economic development of the country will be strengthened and imports can be reduced. The government has been spending a lot of money to import fuel and edible oils annually. It was learnt that edible oil sufficiency in Pyay district was more than 500 percent and efforts must be made to achieve more success.
Efforts must be made to produce more agricultural and livestock breeding products in Pyay district and Bago region. It is necessary to improve the quality of products as well as packaging systems and to substitute imports with domestic goods to meet standards. There are cotton production in Bago region and quality textile pro-ducts must be manufactured. With regional agriculture and livestock breeding products, it is necessary to manufacture value-added finished products. Pyay district is required to carry out agriculture and livestock breeding tasks successfully and can transport the surplus to Yangon region.
Holding free and fair multi-party democracy general election successfully
A multi-party democracy general election will be held a few days later and everyone is urged to make concerted efforts for successfully holding the election. Preparatory measures are being taken to hold the free and fair multi-party democracy general election successfully and to enable all eligible voters to cast their votes and to prevent voting irregularities. It is necessary for us to make efforts not to lose those who are included in the electoral roll their voting rights. Voting or no voting is the will of the voters and it is the responsibility of the government to enable all voters to cast their votes. In casting
votes, the people are urged to vote for those who can serve the interests of the region and the country, respect our three main national causes, possess the union spirit and political, administrative, economic and security point of views and are able to cooperate with the Tatmadaw, the strongest institution in the country, as long as it lasts. Therefore, it is necessary to elect the right people and if the multi-party democracy path taken by the country is trusted, all eligible voters are required to cast their votes.
Then, the Senior General inspected the products and agricultural products of MSMEs in Pyay district displayed there and gave necessary instructions on reports of the officials.
Afterward, the Senior General and his wife and party arrived at the famous, ancient, historic Bawbawgyi Pagoda built by King Duttabaung southwest of Sri Ksetra ancient city and responsible officials from the Archaeology and National Archive Department reported to the Senior General on renovation of the pagoda in its original architecture.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General pointed out the needs to properly preserve the pagoda for long-lasting as it is an invaluable heritage, to regularly clear small plants growing on the main structure of the pagoda as they can damage it, to clear bushes surrounding the pagoda and plants afoot the big trees and others.
Then, the Senior General and his wife paid homage to the pagoda and offered flowers, water and lights before walking round the pagoda clockwise and giving instructions on preservation of the pagoda to officials.
Afterward, the Senior General and party inspected the restoration of the two-storey brick building in Letthe Yaykan Kyaungtaik (a) Thonepanhla Kyaungtaik damaged by the Mandalay earthquake in Hmawza Village Tracts in Sri Ksetra Pyu ancient city and gave necessary instructions on reports of the officials.
