Pyithu Hluttaw MPs used the September 29 session of parliament to criticise the management of state owned industry and question its continued existence in the face of regular losses and allegations of graft.
The calls were led by Daw Nan War Nu MP (Pyithu Hluttaw, Shan Nationalities Development Party, Kon Hein Township, Shan State).
“There are three reasons why the state owned enterprises lose money; factory management, issues of graft and a lack of consideration for the nation,” said Daw Nan War Nu.
She added that the inefficiencies of the factories were explained by a combination of reasons including; being based a long way from the source of the raw materials, a lack of electricity, out-dated factories and a lack of a skilled workforce.
“It is wasting the country’s money when the factories are giving salaries to employees even though the factories cannot operate anymore. Why do these factories continue to exist when they operate at a loss and provide no benefit to the people of Myanmar?”
Daw Tin New Oo MP (Pyithu Hluttaw, National Democratic Force, North Dagon Township, Yangon Region) took particular aim at the bran oil factory that operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce.
“The equipment required is expensive and the product does not sell well; it is very surprising that the factory continues to exist,” she said.
House debate continued to discuss losses within factories under the control of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Mining, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Railway Transportation as well as the possibility of privatisation of these factories.
