State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets chief ministers of regions and states
NAY PYI TAW February 13
State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met chief ministers of regions and states at the meeting hall of his office in Nay Pyi Taw this morning.
Present were SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, 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, U Shwe Kyein, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, region and state chief ministers and officials.
The Senior General said it was an auspicious moment and the Diamond Jubilee Union Day could be held on a grand scale. Even if the number of guests was not counted, the number of students and departmental personnel attending the ceremony alone exceeded 10,400. Despite the difficulties, regions and states were able to show their latest developments. Hence,the credit goes to the chief ministers. The ministries are also thankful for the ardent efforts. The ceremony stands witness to the active and united efforts of the civil servants of the ministries. Thanks to the harmonious and systematic efforts, the ceremony has become a historical milestone. Although the preparatory time was short, the ceremony could be held on a grand scale due to the unity of all. If all strive in unity, the country will gain progress.
National prosperity and plentiful food sources is the first priority of the government’s political program.As the saying goes, “An empty stomach cannot stand upright” all will be healthy and able to work well only if the priority can be fulfilled. The second priority is to strengthen the multi-party democracy and to establish a Union based on the federal system. The third priority is the establishment of the powerful armed forces by reinforcing the army, navy and air force till the national security can be totally secured at the time when the nation enjoys wealth, economic growth and political stability. The goal must be reached through the State’s involvement in fulfilling the requirements and the all-inclusive protection. Besides, economic development is a requisite. The government totally believes in internal strength. National development can be ensured only through self-reliant efforts. Only self-reliant efforts will bring national progress. The country should not rely too much on others. Internal strength is the way to national development.
The country has promising land and water resources and a population of over 55 million of which about 37 million are 18 and above. So, it is a country with rich human resources. It has plenty of aboveground and underground resources which include industrial minerals. It also has a large array of valuable land resources including crop lands. Effective use of the resources will lead to national development.
In Myanmar, Chin State faces poor transport facilities, severe climatic conditions and rare cultivable lands with least production of forest and natural resources. Likewise, Kayah State faces transport difficulties and lesser number of population. Despite production of natural resources, the state still faces various difficulties in comparison with other regions and states. Some parts of Kayin State are difficult in education and health sectors due to poor transport facilities based on hilly and thick jungles. As such, other regions and states need to give a helping hand to them with nationalistic spirit. The government emphasizes development of states. As remaining regions and states have sound foundations, if they dry hard, they will have rapid development. The government will prioritize the states facing requirements in undertaking the peace and prosperity for the State as a national duty.
In so doing, it is necessary to efficiently utilize human resources. Some states are weak in education as well as human resources. The weakness of education sector is based on instability of the country, transport difficulties, language barriers, assistance for parents and unaffordable financial measures. Currently, priority must be given to enhancement of education promotion.
As schools were closed for three years in the 1988 uprisings, the education standard was down. Currently, schools were closed for outbreak of COVID-19 and various reasons. Now, basic education schools and universities have been opened for teaching students. Some 90 percent of the enrolled students attend the basic education, but it is less than the numbers as expected. Some students cannot attend the schools due to instability of politics, lesser number of educational staff and threats. The government firstly gives priority for learning. Learning education will help the students have techniques and knowledge. Hence, learning education is of great importance. Hence, region and state chief ministers need to encourage education and emphasize learning education of all students.
Region and state chief ministers need to help open all schools. If the staff wish to rejoin educational service term, it is necessary allow them under the ethics of service personnel. Education and health staff, who have been trained, should be urged to rejoin the service term.
The government needs to protect education staff, more than 80 percent of who are female, as they are under threat and coercion posed by unscrupulous persons who took advantages over the weakness of female teachers for their shamefulness and fear.
With regard to teaching, teachers are given awards depending on their education qualification. Such a plan will be implemented more. Teachers are the first teachers of students.
Hence, their prestige must beattributed. Teachers are leading their students based on hobby, compassion and goodwill.
In the health sector, Myanmar’s life expectancy is the lowest in comparison with other ASEAN and neighbouring countries. Healthiness will contribute to learning education and working. The country is a home to the majority of the Buddhist people and they are polite. Moreover, the country is endowed with land and water resources. The people must be knowledgeable for health and lifestyle. They must have higher education qualification so as to practise the healthy lifestyle and food supplies. Low grade of education will cause the gap between socio-economic lives of the people. As such, they have to try for passing the at least middle school education o be able to learn vocational education such as agriculture, livestock and industries.
Health staff need to pay attention to public healthcare, and in today’s political situation, there are many participating in the CDM. Since 1995, the country has turned out a lot of doctors from various universities of medicine. If they severe public healthcare services, the strength is more than enough. However, most are running private clinics or businesses rather than serving as civil servants. This is why there are requirements in public healthcare services. There was some opposition to the sending of medical doctors from the Tatmadaw to far-flung areas to meet health staff needs. This has been done to facilitate healthcare services in various regions and states. But, those health staff serving their duties as they show their loyalty to the State deserve recognition. Responsible officials are urged to motivate the CDM staff to resume their duty.
Being healthy will allow the people to be able to pursue education and work, thereby contributing towards their life expectancy as well. All citizens need to try to live healthy and long.
Physical exercise should be done constantly rather than temporarily. Primarily, walking about half an hour daily will contribute much towards health, according to health experts. Self-indulgence in food, alcohol and luxury things must be reduced as much as possible. When it comes to eating, one needs to control oneself by eating healthy food, and such encouragement must be done for the public knowledge.
Regarding economy, above- and underground resources and water and land resources need to be tapped in an effective manner. Water sources should be used effectively without causing any waste. As there are still fertilizer needs for agriculture, systematic cage breeding system in respective regions will produce bio-fertilizers. Combined running of agricultural and livestock businesses will reduce loss and waste and facilitate the socio-economy of the rural people who constitute 70 percent of the total population. Generation of electricity through solar energy is one way to meet electricity needs for rural people.
Rice and flour mills are industrial manufacturing businesses based on agriculture. Agricultural mechanization must be launched. Our country grows cotton but has to try to import materials to produce high-quality textiles and obtain good strains. Last year, textiles worth about US$-1.3 billion had to be imported. If we are able to produce high-quality textiles domestically, it will be an industry based on agriculture. So, cotton cultivation must be encouraged. Agriculture-based industries can be established in all regions and states.
Our country is rich in valuable minerals which must be effectively used. Cement is being produced for construction sector, but with various reasons including high production cost, we cannot produce cement enough. Rather than import, domestic production to meet domestic need will greatly reduce foreign exchange spending, and national economy will grow. As import exceeded without encouragement of domestic industry and productivity in the past, there were a lot of trade deficits. With miss-management, the State lost a large sum of money. As domestic manufacturing benefits the country a lot, region and state chief ministers need to encourage domestic industry and production. If cements and iron bars and balls necessary for all regions and states can be produced, we will be able to raise the living standard of the people.
It is necessary to raise the living standards of the people in some areas of the country and concerted efforts must be made to raise the education, economic and living standards of the people in rural areas. As the SAC has assumed the state responsibilities only within a short period, it is necessary to maintain the momentum of long term tasks except education, health and regional development. In conclusion, the Senior General pointed out that the country will achieve development if chief ministers exert efforts based on spirit of well-being for the people.
Then, chief ministers of states and regions reported to the Senior General on measures taken for regional development, stability and the rule of law, smooth flow of commodities, reopening of basic education schools and universities and hospitals, resumption of performance of duties by staff, completion of vaccination programs, control and prevention of the spread of omicron variant, agriculture tasks for food security, investment and job opportunities in respective states and regions.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General gave necessary instructions, saying in connection with the development and austerity of state funds that the country possesses abundant land resources and it is necessary to utilize the land resources beneficially for agriculture. If per-acre yields of crops can be boosted, food surplus for the entire population can be produced. Therefore, agricultural land can only be used for other purposes only when there is no other choice. Similarly, water resources must be utilized beneficially. Water from rivers and creeks in the entire country is utilized beneficially for agriculture and for the well-being of the people in the cold, rainy and hot seasons, contribution can be made for socio-economic development of the people. It is estimated by experts that 40,000 megawatts of electricity can be generated from the rivers and creeks. Moreover, the country also possesses other favourable conditions to generate electricity. In connection with the austerity measures for electricity and fuel oil, the use of appliances that consume less electricity will reduce the percentage of power consumption and save money. Much of fuel oil is imported from other countries and the country has to spend large amounts of foreign exchange on fuel oil annually. Therefore, it is necessary to use fuel oil only when it is necessary. Responsible officials from states and regions are required to take measures for better public transportation systems and to operate circular trains. Efforts must also be made to operate trains regularly and to manage railway stations properly for smooth flow of commodities. Responsible officials are required to take measures to prevent squats in road and railway areas. In conclusion, the Senior General urged participants to practice austerity measures for nation building and development.