‘Need to set aside personal disputes’

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 20: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim confirmed sending invitations to MPs and members of the government to the ordinary session at 9:00 am on Tuesday in accordance with Article 72 of the Assembly Decree.

Al-Ghanim disclosed this session is allocated for electing the chairpersons and members of permanent and temporary parliamentary committees, in addition to the oath taking of newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali. He stressed the need to set aside personal disputes in the interest of the nation and citizens. He is hoping for completion of the election of members and chairpersons of parliamentary committees in the upcoming session to kick-start the legislation machine. He also affirmed that all precautionary measures taken in previous sessions will be adopted in the upcoming session. He is looking forward to full cooperation between the government and Assembly in this session.

In another development, MP Badr Al- Dahoum invited the citizens to the next session in order to reclaim their seats which were taken by scheming Assembly officials. He disclosed an investigation will be conducted to identify those responsible for the entry of several citizens – supporters of the speaker – to the legislative building during the opening session. He will see if HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled will express satisfaction, similar to what he did after the opening session, despite the violations, bad words and unfair distribution of invitation cards among citizens. He asked the citizens, who will attend Tuesday’s session, to inform him through Twitter in case there are attempts to prevent them from entering the legislative building, stressing the need for everyone to come because the seats are for the people of Kuwait.

In addition, MP Thamer Al-Suwait wondered what could be the reasons behind the satisfaction of HH Prime Minister over the last session. He asked if it was because of the chaos, insulting of MPs or forgery of the nation’s will. He went on to say that HH the Prime Minister is involved in such issue, because the latter supported forgery – referring to the election of Speaker. He added the people are disappointed and they call that day ‘Black Tuesday’. He said he obtained information that the Secretariat General at the Assembly intends to follow the previous procedure – prevent citizens from entering the legislative building. He said a list is being prepared to reveal the names of Assembly officials, whom he called “a gang” that played a shameful role as they prevented many citizens from entering the legislative building but allowed the supporters of a certain party.

In another development, MP Ahmed Mutei Al-Azmi intends to submit a bill on adding new areas – Masayel, Abu Al-Hassaniya, Abu Fatera, Sabah Al-Ahmad City and South Sabah Al-Ahmad – to the electoral roll of the Fifth Constituency. He will also propose the cancellation of the law criminalizing the consultative meetings of tribes before the parliamentary election. He pointed out the current law violates the concept of consultation (Shura) which is stated in the Holy Quran. He argued political parties and blocs are allowed to hold such meetings; so why forbid the tribes from doing so especially since these meetings do not threaten the State, society or national security? He also appealed to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to grant general amnesty to those convicted of storming the Assembly building, pointing out that they are known for their loyalty to the political leadership and are keen on combating corruption. Moreover, MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari is the first among the incumbent MPs to submit his financial disclosure to Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha).

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff