Myanmar Morning News For March 22

Htin Kyaw, Myanmar president and Aung San Suu Kyi confidante, resigns
The president of Myanmar, Htin Kyaw, has stepped down, saying he is “taking a rest” following health issues.
— The Guardian

Cate Blanchett questions Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s stance on Rohingya refugee crisis, calls for aid
Australian actor Cate Blanchett says it is “bewildering” Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi has not spoken out about the atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims in her country.
— ABC

Myanmar journalists in court 100 days after their arrest
Two Myanmar reporters have appeared in a court 100 days after they were arrested on charges of possessing secret government documents.
— Al Jazeera

Union Tax Law approved without tax amnesty clause
Parliament yesterday approved the Union Tax Law for 2018 after omitting a tax amnesty clause proposed by the government.
— The Myanmar Times

Amyotha Hluttaw forms Construction, Industry, Electricity and Energy Committee
The Amyotha Hluttaw agreed yesterday on the formation, rights and duties of the Committee on Construction, Industry, Electricity and Energy, which will review the various sectors.
— The Global Newlight of Myanmar

Nearly Half of Yangon’s Water Supply Lost Daily Before Reaching Residents
Some 100 million gallons of water, which is nearly half of the daily amount supplied by the Yangon municipality to its residents, is wasted daily in the supply process, said the water and sanitation branch of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC).
— The Irrawaddy

Supplementary Appeal – Myanmar Refugee Emergency Response in Bangladesh, March – December 2018
In the fastest growing refugee exodus that the world has witnessed in decades, some 671,000 refugees fled into Bangladesh from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in less than six months starting in August 2017.
— ReliefWeb

KBZ targets 100 percent financial inclusion in a decade
KBZ Bank, Myanmar’s largest privately-owned bank, has secured a partnership with Huawei to create an inclusive digital financial ecosystem. The partnership aims to give Myanmar citizens across the country greater access to finance and improve their quality of life through banking.
— The Myanmar Times

Parliament Approves Funds for Internet Oversight Body
The Union Parliament on Monday approved more than 6.4 billion kyats (US$7.8 million) to monitor the internet for people who use it to “harm the stability” of the country.
— The Irrawaddy

Laws failing to protect public: survey
A survey conducted by non-government group My Justice showed that the current laws and practices of Myanmar and legal organisations fail to fail to protect individuals’ rights and are more concerned with national stability and control.
— The Myanmar Times

Myanmar locomotive handed over
The last of 18 diesel locomotives manufactured for Myanma Railways by Indian Railways’ Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi and supplied through RITES was formally handed over with a ceremony on March 19. The order had been financed through an Indian government credit line.
— Railway Gazette

A Bitter Budget Battle in Rakhine State Drags On
“The game is not over yet,” U Min Aung told The Irrawaddy of the political power struggle between lawmakers and cabinet members in Rakhine State following his termination as the region’s minister of municipal affairs in January.
— The Irrawaddy

Inflation rate hits 4.16 pc in February
The average inflation rate in late February was 4.16 per cent, with the highest rates reported in Rakhine, Mandalay and Kachin, according to the Central Statistical Organisation.
— Eleven Myanmar

Singer faces defamation suit after accusing Mandalay judge of corruption in viral video
A Mandalay judge has filed a defamation lawsuit against singer Ma Khaing, also known as Ta Tha Tha, after she posted a video on Facebook in which she insults another judge and accuses her of accepting bribes.
— Coconuts Yangon

Feature photo Jean-Marie Hullot

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Myanmar morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Myanmar Morning News For March 22 added by Leakhena Khat on March 22, 2018
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.