Myanmar lower house resumes regular session

The 12th regular session of Myanmar's House of Representatives (the lower house), which was adjourned on July 24 due to flooding, resumed in Nay Pyi Taw on August 18.

At the session, chaired by Speaker of the lower house U Shwe Mann, a parliament member (MP) of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party called for the end of the session, given there is plenty of work for MPs to do referring post-flood rehabilitation work and preparations for the upcoming general election.

However, U Shwe Mann disagreed with the proposal, saying MPs busy with their undertakings can take leave and the session will shortly complete discussions on remaining bills.

Also on August 18, the regular session of the House of Nationalities (the upper house) resumed, turning down the proposal submitted in the lower house.

In a press release on August 17, the Myanmar government pledged to ensure that the upcoming general election will be free and fair by fully cooperating with the Union Election Commission (UEC), political parties, civil society and the public.

The government said preparations are now underway to hold the election on November 8, which is expected to be the most widely participated in and inclusive election since the country’s independence.

The 2015 general election will elect parliamentarians for the next five-year tenure, starting in 2016. The incumbent government took office in March 2011 and will conclude its term in March 2016.-VNA