THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
(Wednesday, 19 May 1999)
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(1) 97 dams have been built nationwide for development of agricultural sector Segyi Diversion Weir inaugurated in Taunggyi
YANGON, 18 May - Inauguration ceremony of Segyi Diversion Weir built by Irrigation Department in Taunggyi Township, Shan State, was held yesterday morning at the Mingala Mandat near the diversion weir, attended by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Col Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye. The General and party arrived in Taunggyi by helicopter yesterday morning from Kalaw.
Afterwards, General Maung Aye presented cash to Assistant Director (Civil) of Irrigation Department U San Htoo. Commander Maj-Gen Maung Bo presented commemorative gift to the General. Next, Commander Maj-Gen Maung Bo and Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Khin Maung formally opened the diversion weir.
General Maung Aye and party inspected flow of water from left sluice gate and spillway and greeted those present.
The earthen Segyi Diversion Weir, 1,800 feet long and 24 feet high, was built on Nanglet Creek near Segyi Village of Mongthaw East Village tact in Taunggyi. It was built for cultivation of 1,500 acres of farmland and 500 acres of fallow land in Mongthaw Village-tract and for paddy cultivation of 1,000 acres and 1,500 acres of double and mixed cropping and monsoon paddy in Thande Village-tract.
Construction began in January 1999 and completed in four months.
The General and party went to Konlon Kyaungtaik in Galon Hill in Pindaya Township by helicopter. The General and party paid respects to Abhidaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Tejaniya Konlon Sayadaw and presented provisions to the Sayadaw. They inspected completed Konlon Sasana Beikmandaw and paid obeisance to Buddha images there.
At 10.15 am, General Maung Aye and party left for Kalaw.
Minister Col Thein Nyunt and Deputy Ministers Dr Than Nyunt and Brig-Gen Khin Maung put suggestions for development of the township.
The Secretary-2 called for cooperation with local people for development of the township. The Committee for establishment of Pinewood Township was formed with the Commandant of Command and General Staff College as chairman.
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(2) Myanmar Medicinal Raw Materials & Technological Development Leading Committee meets
YANGON, 18 May - Myanmar Medicinal Raw Materials and Technological Development Leading Committee held a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Industry-1 this morning, attended by Patron of Myanmar Medicinal Raw Materials and Technological Development Leading Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
At the meeting, Minister U Aung Thaung reported on production of Myanmar Pharmaceutical Factory, items of medicine being manufactured by MPF, raw materials required for the factory, import substitute items for medicinal raw materials, herbal plantations , arrangements for extension of herbal plantations for boosting production of medicinal raw materials, availability of medicinal raw materials from other ministries, establishment of Pharmaceutical Technology Development Centre and research work done and formation of Myanmar Medicinal Raw Materials and Technological Development Leading Committee, Supervisory Group for Availability of Medicinal Raw Materials for Traditional Medicine, Supervisory Group for Availability of Medicinal laid down for progress of political, economic and social sectors.
As the Head of State Senior General Than Shwe have given guidance on the need to explain national objectives ministry wise, work projects laid down in accord with the financial conditions, the directives and objectives of the State to the officials at different levels, the work coordination meetings are being held in accord with this guidance.
Industrial development is included in the State's objectives as the nation can get abreast with other nations only if the nation can develop her industries.
All should understand that boosting productivity is an important national concern as the State is giving priority to raising production of import substitute goods.
The Head of State and State-level officials are touring down to the basic levels for harmonious progress of the agricultural production and industrial production.
The Secretary-1 elaborated on the formation of the Central Agricultural Development Committee with Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council as the leader and the Secretary-1, the Secretary-2, the Secretary-3, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military Affairs and the respective ministers as participants in endeavoring to extend sown areas, multiple-cropping and per acre yield. The Work Committee was also formed. The committee will render assistance and directives to ensure full-capacity operating of the factories, to boost import substitute goods and to uplift the morale of the workers of the Ministry of Industry-1 and the Ministry of Industry-2.
Assistance should be rendered also to the cooperative and private sectors for national industrial progress and to ensure mutual cooperation between the State-owned and the private sectors.
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(3) Secretary-1 urges officials of Ministry of Industry-1 to enhance use of import substitute machines, production
YANGON, 18 May - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt this morning met with heads of department and factory managers of the Ministry of Industry-1 and discussed matters relating to the projected tasks in fiscal 1999-2000.
Senior officials of the ministry reported on implementation of projects sector-wise.
Minister U Aung Thaung explained the organizational set-up of the ministry and the departments and enterprises under it, type of products, targets and implementation of projects in fiscal 1998-99, availability of raw materials, staff strength, welfare activities and targets for fiscal 1999-2000.
As the Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has given guidance for emergence of cooperative industries to work in competition with the private sector and to promote the private industries while the government will engage only in the heavy industries.
In conclusion, he stressed the need to strive for speedily reaching of the national goal – modernization and development of the mother country; to make efforts for the development of the national industrial sector with the conviction and objectives to build the nation on self-reliance basis, to be free from relying on other countries, to give priority to the well-being of national races of the country, to vitalize patriotic spirit, to ensure perpetuation of the Union and to realize the national objectives.
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(4) Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee attends ceremony to donate stationery to Ministry of Education
YANGON, 18 May - A ceremony to donate stationery worth K 4 million to Ministry of Education by Myanma Paper and Stationery Trading Ltd was held at the Yangon University Diamond Jubilee Hall this afternoon, attended by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
First, Director U Kan Htoo Maung reported the purpose of the donations. Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 Lt-Gen, Khin Nyunt accepted 5,000 dozens of exercise books and 5,000 dozens of pencils worth K 4 million presented by Director U Kan Htoo Maung.
Afterwards, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung said the exercise books and pencils donated by the Myanma Paper and Stationery Trading Ltd would be sent to development schools in border regions, monastic education schools, youth training schools of Social Welfare Department, Parahita schools and other schools in far-flung areas this academic year.
He added that the books and pencils will help promote education of the students. The deputy minister, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, expressed words of thanks for the donations to the Myanma Paper and Stationery Trading Ltd.
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(5) MIC Chairman receives Malaysian Agriculture Minister
YANGON, 18 May - Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Minister of Agriculture Hon Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Hj Dand and party, accompanied by Ambassador of Malaysia Data Muhammad bin Noh, who called at his office at 2 pm today.
Present were officials of the Government's Office and Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration. They discussed work projects for economic cooperation between Myanmar and Malaysia.
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(6) Pathein gets new digital electronic telephone exchange
YANGON, 18 May - A new digital electronic telephone exchange was inaugurated in Pathein this morning.
Present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West
Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin, departmental officials and towns-elders.
Commander Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and Minister Brig-Gen Win Tin delivered speeches and formally opened the exchange. The latest TMX 100 exchange consists of 1,000 lines.
On 17 May, the minister inspected microwave relay station, post and telegraph office and meteorology and hydrology Department there.
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(7) Myanmar, Malaysia sign MoUs on trade
YANGON, 18 May - Memoranda of Understanding were signed by Myanmar and Malaysia at Traders Hotel this evening for bilateral trade promotion and investment and cooperation in agriculture and livestock breeding Minister Maj-Gen Kyaw Than and Minister Hon Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Hj Dand signed minutes of the meetings between Myanmar and Malaysian delegates.
On the occasion, Managing Director of Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trading U Saw Aung and Mr Hisham Abdul Rahman of Bernas Bhd signed the MoU on promotion of trade between MAPI and Bernas Bhd.
Officials of Myanmar companies, Shwethazin, Yuzana, Dagon International, Shwenagamin and Shwe Family, and Bemas Bhd signed MoUs on promotion of trade. Maj Gen Kyaw Than and the Malaysian minister expressed words of thanks.
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(8) Minister meets Ambassador of Lao PDR
YANGON, 18 May - Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San met with Ambassador of Lao People's Democratic Republic Mr Ly Bounkham who called at his office this morning.
The minister and the ambassador discussed strengthening of bilateral friendly relations, exchange of scholars between the two countries under the agreement of the Fourth Meeting of Myanmar Laos Joint Commission and promotion of cooperation between the two countries.
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(9) Chairman of 37th Meeting of ASEAN COST arrives
YANGON, 18 May - Chairman of 37th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology Chairman of Science and Technology Committee of Singapore Mr Chong Lit Cheong and chairmen of science and technology committees of other ASEAN member countries arrived here by air yesterday and today to attend the 37th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology to be held in the Sedona Hotel on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon, from 19 to 21 May.
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(10) Preliminary meetings of sub-committees for ASEAN COST continue
YANGON, 18 May - The preliminary meetings of the sub-committees for 37th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology continued for the second day at the Sedona Hotel on Kaba Aye Pagoda this morning.
The meetings were attended by the representatives of ASEAN member countries – Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and officials of the ASEAN Secretariat.
Dr Rafael D Guerrero III and Dr Manoio Mena of the Philippines presided over the meetings of Marine Science Sub-committee and the Material Science and Technology Sub-committee which began there today.
The Biotechnology Subcommittee, Food Science and Technology Sub-committee, Microelectronics and Information Technology Sub-committee and Science and Technology Infrastructure and Resource Development Subcommittee continued for the second day meetings. The representatives discussed technological cooperation matters.
The representatives and officials of the ASEAN Secretariat visited Shwedagon Pagoda this morning.
In the evening, Chairman of Organizing Committee for the 37th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko hosted dinner at the Sedona Hotel in honour of the leaders of the sub-committees of the 37th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology.
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(11) YTU, Universiti Technologi Malaysia sign MoU on technology cooperation
YANGON, 18 May - Under the arrangement of technology cooperation programme between Myanmar and Malaysia, a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding of technology cooperation between Yangon Technological University of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Universiti Technologi Malaysia was held at the Hotel Equatorial on Alanpya Phaya Road this morning.
Rector of YTU U Nyi Hla Nge and Vice-Chancellor Dr Datuk Ahmed Zaharudin Idrus of Universiti Technologi Malaysia signed the MoU and exchanged documents.
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(12) Minister inspects agriculture tasks in Taninthayi
YANGON, 18 May - Secretary of Regional Agriculture Development Leading Committee Minister at the Prime Ministers Office Brig-Gen Lun Maung, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Director-General U Kyaw Tun of the Prisons Department and officials of Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, went to Shanindaw Village of Taninthayi Township yesterday and inspected land reclamation for extension of paddy cultivation there.
Project Manager U Hla Shwe of Shwekanbawza Company reported on land reclamation for oil-palm a preparation for nursery. The minister fulfilled the requirements and inspected the completion of tasks.
The minister and party inspected construction of temporary Taninthayi-Myitnge bridge. They then inspect completion of oil-palm cultivation being carried out Myan Naing Myint Company.
Managing Director the company U Maung Maung Myint reported progress of tasks to the minister.
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(13) 58th donation for Tooth Relic Pagoda on 29 May
YANGON, 18 May - The 58th donation for Tooth Relic Pagoda (Yangon) will be held at Dhammapala Hill in Mayangon Township at 2 pm on 20 May.
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(14) Minister meets President of Sumitrans (Japan) Corporation
YANGON, 18 May - Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe met President of Sumitrans (Japan) Corporation Mr Yoshihiro Hatanaka and party who called at his office this morning.
Also present at the call were Deputy Minister U Pe Than and Director General U Win Maung of Department for Civil Aviation.
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(15) 61 members resign from Pyapon Township NLD
YANGON, 18 May - Sixty-one members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Division.
Sixty-one members of Pyapon Township NLD, Ayeyawady Division, of their own volition, resign›d by sending letters of resignation to Pyapon Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on 23 December 1998 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.
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