UNION Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn gave a virtual interview to Ms Kana Takagi, the reporter from the Mainichi Shimbun from Japan on the morning of 17 February.
Reporter Ms Kana Takagi asked about the schedules of Myanmar to admit international passenger flights and the situation to accept them, the topic whether the government is difficult to control expanding of social media, reviews over the press freedom, plans to reissue the licences to banned local media, the expectation of the Ministry of Information for foreign media to present the types of information, reviews over the local economy within one year after the State Administration Council has taken responsibilities, process to lure foreign companies to invest in the country, handover of business management to a new government who will come out from the forthcoming election, remarks over the Rakhine State when the Union minister served as the Chief Minister of the Rakhine State, and attitudes of Rakhine political parties over PR system being prepared for the coming election.
In his response, the Union minister replied that arrangements are being made to resume international flights. At present, such a plan is suspended till the end of February due to infection of the Omicron variant. Despite such kinds of restrictions, relief flights to transport citizens returning home and foreigners, the flights for transport of commodities and medical equipment and emergency flights are arranged. The flights for just travelling are restricted temporarily. Depending on controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar and other countries, the flights will be resumed.
Our government does not control the use of social media. Websites are allowed to open. People need to efficiently apply social media, and the Ministry of Information arranges public awareness for applying social media. The information team of the State Administration Council holds the press conference once a month to issue the information and data. The websites of MRTV and MOI post the true news. The Union minister said he led the press briefing to the foreign diplomats.
It is difficult to control the information on social media. Efforts are being made to disseminate true news to the people. MOI and MRTV disseminating the true information were removed from YouTube and Facebook. As the people face fake news and false news on a daily basis, causing weakness, arrangements are being made to broadcast the true news in continuation so as to have the advantages.
The government does not prohibit press freedom. Press freedom should be alive. But media need to abide by rules and regulations and the government and the media need to have mutual respect. Our country has enacted the news media law. If the media comply with such a law, any problem will come out. But, media need to have responsibility and accountability for the broadcasting of news and the news must have firm sources. If they strictly abide by the disciplines, there is no reason to ban them.
The Ministry of Information fully gives the rights of the press to the news agencies and media in accord with the provisions of the law. Section 354 of the Constitution states that every citizen shall be at liberty in the exercise of the following rights, if not contrary to the laws, enacted for Union security, the prevalence of law and order, community peace and tranquillity or public order and morality to express and publish freely their convictions and opinions. The news media law was enacted with the aim of emerging the media with the rights of free expression and publishing and the entitlement and freedom of media.
The Chapter III of the news media law mentions the entitlement of media persons and Chapter IV mentions the duties and ethics of media. All the news without opposing the laws of the State and the interests of the State can be freely expressed. Emphasis is being placed on press freedom. With regard to press freedom, the press scrutiny system was revoked after 2012. The Prime Minister recognizes the media sector as the fourth estate and fully allows press freedom. All media need to do their work under the law.
If they comply with the press ethics and law, we don’t have any reason to ban them. Currently, I hope that social media does not express the news harming the sovereignty of the State and national unity and hate speech. If you want to know whether these news items are one-sided opinions and fabricated news or true ones, contact us. I’d like to expose the reality and true news. The news without limitation is dangerous. It does not contribute to the peace and stability of the State. Some media and agencies infringing on disciplines were banned. Reissuance of licences to local media and agencies depends on their activities. The Ministry of Information will give back licences to them if they express and broadcast the news focusing on the Perpetuation of Sovereignty, Non-disintegration of the Union and Non-disintegration of national solidarity. The ministry wishes to join hands with the media by easing the restrictions as much as possible. So, all media have been invited. If the media focus on national cause and public cause, licences will be given back to them.
At a time when the State Administration Council took the State responsibilities, the State economy has declined due to the outbreak of COVID-19 similar to other global countries. It can be said that many factories and industries resumed their operations. The withdrawal of some companies was dependent on politics. They left here due to violent acts and setting fire by NUG and PDF terrorist groups. As of 2 February 2021, the government has allowed 18 foreign direct investment projects and 15 Myanmar citizen investment projects. So far, more than US$3,823 million was allowed for 12 investment sectors for 44 businesses from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2022. In this regard, US$3,062 million was allowed for the electricity sector as the largest amount. More than US$237 million was invested in other service sectors. The industrial sector was invested with more than US$199 million. The total foreign investment worth US$3,823 million comprises US$2,504 million from the UK, US$516 million from Japan and US$442 million from Singapore.
This year’s inflow of FDI was 128 projects of investments less than that of last year but the investment amount increased to US$558.339 million. So, foreign investments created jobs for 24,258 local workers and citizen investments, 11,704 workers, totalling 35,962.
Efforts are being made to regularize the border trade with the main trade partner China. The Myanmar kyat and Chinese yuan direct payment systems are being implemented successfully. There are many countries wishing to invest in Myanmar. For example, work requirements are being solved at the Thilawa Special Economic Zone where the majority of Japanese entrepreneurs operate their businesses. As riots are down in Myanmar, schools reopen. The State Administration Council has successfully controlled its functions. Economic development more than now will be realized in 2022.
The root cause of the withdrawal of foreign companies is the push of their mother countries. And, some of them left here due to terrorist acts of NUG and PDF groups. Some companies left here during the COVID-19 period. But many companies have come back. As of May 2021, the government endorsed business visas and allowed relief flights for more than 3,200 companies. A total of 9,010 foreigners returned here. Due to the pressures of foreign countries, some companies left here while some new companies entered the country. The government takes returns of international companies and puts investment in Myanmar into consideration. The government gives firm guarantees to investors and protects THE ASEAN Forum for Promotion of Women Participation in Sports was held virtually yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw. The forum was hosted by Myanmar as part of a series of events to promote the participation of women and girls in the ASEAN regional sports sector, one of the five activities that Myanmar has included as a leading country in the ASEAN Work Plan and Sports 2021-2025.
The forum was attended by Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan, Deputy Minister U Myo Hlaing, departmental officials, representatives from ASEAN nations and regions/states, officials from the Myanmar Olympic Committee and SOMS, and invitees.
While addressing the forum, the Union minister said this is the first time Myanmar hosts such an event, adding the importance of women’s participation in sports and the necessity to develop systematic plans to increase the participation of women in the sports sector. Efforts are being made to develop programmes and strategies at the national level by establishing friendship between ASEAN and Myanmar in future sports activities, especially women’s sports cooperation, the Union Minister said.
Afterwards, Vice-President of the Myanmar Women Sports Federation Daw Yi Yi Win discussed “Women in Sports in Myanmar”; Lecturer at the Thailand National Sports University (Chiang Mai Campus) Ms Pacharakamon Arkornsakul discussed “Suggestion for Increasing Female Sports Participation in Thailand”; Principal of Sports and Physical Education Institute (Loikaw) Daw Soe Soe Myar, Department of Sports and Physical Education, discussed “Women Lead Women at Administrative Role in Sports”; Member of Women and Sports Committee, Malaysian Olympic Council, Ms Nurul Huda Abdullah discussed “Women in Sports: Malaysia’s Journey to Action”.
In the afternoon programme of the forum, Professor from Dagon University Dr Sein Nyo Nyo Ko discussed “Women’s Participation in Sports in Higher Education”; Mr Asahi Takano from the Portas Consulting and Head of the Asia Pacific office and Mr Jhoshan Jothilingam from the International Government and Business Expert (Portas) discussed “2021 ASEAN Sports Participation Study”.
Vice-President of the Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities Professor Dr Than Than Htay discussed “Women Participation in Paralympic Sports”; Senior Officer of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports, ASEAN Secretariat, Ms Larastilndrawagit discussed “Outcomes of ASEAN-Japan Action on Sports Project: Policy Workshop on Gender Equality in Sports and ASEAN #WeScore Campaign”.
Attendees at the forum raised questions on the discussions, and the Deputy Secretary General from the ASEAN Secretariat and the Director-General of the Sports and Physical Education Department gave concluding remarks.
MNA
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