KUWAIT CITY, May 18: Public Funds Protection Committee Chairman MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji has asked Minister of Public Works, Renewable Energy, Electricity and Water Ali Al-Mousa about the number of agricultural plots and farms that have been distributed so far. He explained this is part of the tasks of the committee, which has been instructed to investigate corruption in the distribution of the above-mentioned properties. He wants to know if there are ministers, MPs, undersecretaries, assistant undersecretaries, heads of public institutions and their deputies among the beneficiaries. He affirmed the response of Al-Mousa will be added to the integrated report that the committee is currently preparing. He said the transparent report will be submitted to the National Assembly upon completion.

MP Osama Al-Menawer forwarded queries to Minister of Commerce and Industry Fahd Al-Shrai’an about the inspection campaigns conducted in markets to make sure they are not selling subsidized foodstuff, penalties imposed on those who violated the regulations, if the ministry has corresponded with Kuwait General Administration for Customs (KGAC) to control subsidized commodities and prevent the smuggling of such items, quantity of confiscated commodities, and if the ministry uncovered manipulation in the distribution of subsidized foodstuff.

Checkup
Meanwhile, MP Hesham Al-Saleh submitted a bill amending law number 31/2008 on requiring couples planning to get married to undergo medical checkup. The bill stipulates amending Clause One of Article One to read as follows: Whoever is planning to get married must submit a premarital health checkup certificate and a police clearance to prove he is free of infectious and genetic diseases, or not addicted to drugs or intoxications.

In another development, MP Khalid Al-Otaibi urged the directors of educational institutions to respond to the demands of students unions that serve as the link between students and the administrations at Kuwait University and Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). He said one of the students’ demands is to resume the payment of excellence and rare specialization allowances, which have been suspended for years. He warned that suspending the payment of such allowances or disbursing them based on ‘wasta’ (influence) will discourage the students. In a relevant development, MP Khalil Al-Saleh has rejected the plan to rationalize the budget for education; stressing the importance of providing all forms of support to develop education. He added that reducing the budget of Kuwait University will have a negative impact on the quality of education and will lead to downgrading the university’s classification.

Moreover, Assembly Observer MP Osama Al-Shaheen recently met with former consultant of the Turkish President, academician and author Yasin Aktay. They exchanged views on the regional and international issues, in addition to discussing ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two friendly countries. Aktay presented the Arabic translations of some of his books at the end of the meeting. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff