KUWAIT CITY, Nov 4: Islamist lawmaker Faisal Al-Muslim reaffirmed Wednesday his plan to interrogate HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah after presenting a KD200,000 cheque to prove his claim that the premier bribed an ex-MP. A copy of the cheque was given to the press during the session. It was dated June 10, 2008 and the recipient’s name has been carefully crossed out. “I will resign if Sheikh Nasser proves me wrong. Otherwise, he has two choices — resign or accept my request to interrogate him,” Al-Muslim stressed. Asserting he has no intention to neglect the issue, Al-Muslim said a report from the Audit Bureau has confirmed financial violations in the premier’s office, indicating the Cabinet has referred the issue to the Public Prosecution.
When Al-Muslim inquired about the alleged embezzlement of funds in the Prime Minister Diwan, the Cabinet expressed regret over its inability to respond to the query as the court is still investigating the issue. “The Parliament has set up investigative committees which work with the judiciary without manipulating any case. However, the Cabinet has refused to answer my simple questions, claiming it might be considered interference in judicial affairs,” he added.
Alleging the premier has been dodging his questions, Al-Muslim promised to closely follow up the issue and confirmed his plan to submit a grilling request against the premier in the next few days.
Defending the premier, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan stated the cheque, if genuine, might have come from Sheikh Nasser’s personal bank account as payment for something he purchased from the former lawmaker. He also expressed his willingness to support Al-Muslim’s request once proven that the cheque came from the budget of the Prime Minister Diwan to bribe the former MP.
Al-Muslim then retorted that he is keen on finding the truth regarding the cheque from the prime minister.
This heated exchange occurred while the Parliament debated on the Amiri Speech during the inauguration of the second legislative round. Parliamentarians took this opportunity to express their concern over the five-year plan of the government.
Veteran lawmaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun said he is in favor of building the fourth refinery and other major oil projects as long as the private sector is a main contributor and the Kuwaiti nation owns shares in these vital projects.
MP Adel Al-Saraawi disclosed a number of new lawmakers have records of breaking laws, using their posts to achieve personal goals, and terrorizing ministers to give in to their demands. “I have found out that a new lawmaker has been threatening Minister of Public Works Fadhel Safar to succumb to his demands. Such lawmakers are a grave threat to this nation,” he lamented.
Moreover, parliamentarians expressed their concern over the increasing level of corruption in ministries, while affirming that development is impossible if corruption prevails. They also criticized attempts to weaken national unity and called on the ruling family, citizens and media to unite in maintaining the solidarity of the Kuwaiti nation.
Furthermore, a number of lawmakers were of the view that the government’s five-year development plan is beyond its capabilities and it has failed to provide solutions to the simplest problems like the number of non-working days during Eid. They claimed the government merely submitted this plan to “stop the Parliament’s demand in this regard”.
Some MPs asked the government to develop clear-cut schedules for the implementation of the projects included in the policy statement and the five-year plan.
They also urged recruiting efficient manpower which is capable of translating into reality the targets of the plans especially those relating to the housing, healthcare, environment and educational problems.
They called for creating the political atmosphere conducive to cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities.
Other MPs called for improving the public utilities in order to provide a better service for citizens and expatriates.
They urged the Ministry of Health to double its efforts to provide the vaccine against swine flu and minimize medical errors which pose grave health hazards.
They also urged strengthening the foundations on which the national unity was based notably the principles of respect, justice, equality and equitable job opportunities.
They decried the irresponsible practices of some private satellite media outlets which tamper with Kuwait’s national unity and foment sedition. They called for investment in human resources through better capacity building programs.
By Dahlia Kholaif
Arab Times Staff