KUWAIT CITY, Oct 11: Outspoken opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak resumed his condemnation of what he deems as a “government of failures” and urged the Kuwait Customs Union to continue its strike until all demands are met.

“We pay tribute to all customs staff and employees who are urging their board of directors to fulfill their demands. Strikes are proving how powerful the trade union movement is in Kuwait. They comprise of honorable people who refuse to ignore the interests of their workers and the people, unlike the bribed parliamentarians,” he praised after a meeting with Head of Kuwait’s customs union, Ahmed Al-Enezi.

Al-Barrak said that opposition MPs demand a firm stance by the Director of Customs, Ibrahim Al-Ghanim, who should submit his resignation and “throw it in face of the government of failures.” Agencies reported on Monday that all vessel traffic in and out of Kuwaiti ports is halted and oil tanker traffic has stopped as Kuwait customs union went on a strike. Al-Enezi said that the union pledges to continue its strike until the demands of salary raises and better working conditions are met.

Al-Barrak further criticized the Cabinet’s decision on Monday to form a team, headed by the Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hamoud, to stand against worker strikes. He said the Cabinet and the Interior Minister are deluded if they believe they are able threaten the honorable union movements with force, as these unions are acting legally as per the Constitution. MPs Khaled Al-Tahous and Khaled Al-Adwa also expressed their support of the strike.

Meanwhile, MP Faisal Al-Muslim announced that the grilling request by opposition MPs against HH the Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, will be submitted on Sunday, Oct 20, instead of Thursday, Oct 13. He said that the grilling draft has not yet been finalized and the postponement was requested by a number of MPs who are currently out of the country. He refuted claims by “corrupt media” of a rife between opposition MPs.

Furthermore, MP Daifallah Buramiyah threatened the Minister of Communication with a questioning on reports that Shuaiba Port is renting terminals to a company without a contract. MP Naji Abdulhadi also commented that opposition MPs will file mass grilling requests against the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defense, in order to force the government’s resignation, if the PM’s grilling is postponed by the Constitutional Court.

On another note, the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee resumed discussions on the anti-graft laws on Tuesday and approved a proposal to increase the salaries of academics working in the government sector, who have never received bonuses and allowance, by 50%. The committee also approved a proposal that grants working citizens loans amounting to 10 times their main salaries to be paid within five years and increased Kuwaiti children’s monthly allowance from KD 50 to KD 70.

Chairman MP Hussein Al-Huraiti, said that invitations to government officials have been renewed for a meeting on Sunday to discuss the anti-graft law. He added that the legal board will increase its meetings in order to finalize its report on the anti-corruption bill before the next legislative round. Al-Huraiti revealed that the MPs discussed the legality of retroactive financial disclosure without retroactive punishments for violating the law. This means, he explained, that retroactive wealth disclosure statements can be submitted, however punishments cannot be applied on violations before the approval of the law. This is yet under study, Al-Huraiti said.

Meanwhile, MP Mubarak Al-Walaan submitted his resignation from the Health Committee on Tuesday as he suspects that important files are being mishandled by its members. Al-Walaan stated that his relationship with the committee’s chairman, MP Rola Al-Dashti, is unharmonious and would prefer not to take part in the board’s decisions. He revealed there is a tendency to focus on laws that are important to the Kuwaiti citizen while ignoring other vital bills.

Speaking on Monday’s controversy regarding the Ministry of Education’s alleged decision to remove a specific Hadith — Tradition of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) — on the Prophet’s companions from the Islamic Studies curriculum, Al-Walaan commented that he was assured by the ministry that they will look into the issue. He said he received a call from the deputy of Minister of Education Ahmed Al-Mulaifi who said that the minister has ordered an investigation and to expect results within a week.

Al-Walaan noted that he will provide the education ministry with all related information and documents in his possession. He stressed he will lend a helping hand to entities that have a sincere desire for reform and development towards a brighter future while maintaining the country’s traditions.