Israeli attacks, Qur’an burning condemned

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 31: MP Hamad Al- Matar has submitted a request to hold a special session on Feb 9 to discuss cheating in exams and leakage of exam questions. A total of 10 lawmakers, including Al-Matar, signed the request. These lawmakers urged the government to present its strategy in addressing the issue; in addition to relevant details like the number of cheating cases in the last five years, factors leading to cheating and action taken by the Ministry of Education to solve the problem.

Other items in the agenda of the requested session are as follows:

● Proposal of MP Abdulkareem Al- Kandari to impose penalties on those who violated the exam regulations;

● Proposal to assign the Education, Culture and Guidance Affairs Committee to investigate the cheating issue. The lawmakers said Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research Ahmed Abdulwahab Al-Adwani should attend the session.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union MP Thamer Al-Suwait condemned the Israeli attacks on the Palestinians in Jenin, as well as the burning of copies of the Holy Quran. Al-Suwait made the statement on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries in Algeria. He confirmed the discussion of a number of important issues at the session, such as the challenges that the Islamic countries are currently facing and development.

He clarified the talks on development focused on human resources rather than material resources. He stressed that Kuwait fully supports all Islamic issues. Al-Suwait headed the Kuwaiti parliamentarian delegation consisting of Secretary of the union MP Muhammad Al- Mahan, Treasurer MP Hamad Al-Obaid and member MP Shuaib Shaaban; in addition to MP Hamdan Al-Azmi representing the Arab Parliament

Convicted
In another development, MP Adel Al-Damkhi submitted a bill on adding an article to Penal Code number 16/1960; stating that whoever is convicted of spying regardless of the method used and with the aim of breaching the privacy of others will be imprisoned for six months maximum or fined KD50 maximum depending on the complaint of the victim.

MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari forwarded queries to Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah about the deal for purchasing drones. He pointed out this deal is being settled at a critical time, considering the resignation of the government and absence of the Kuwait Air Force commander. He asked about the companies that were invited to the bidding, if the relevant procedures were followed, if the required approvals were obtained, if the tender was floated as one including the financial and technical offers, if the qualified companies were announced, if the drones were tested to make sure they are suitable to the Kuwaiti climate, and certificates signed by three officers showing the result of the tests. He requested for copies of the minutes of the Supreme Defense Council’s meeting when the deal was approved, decision of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to allow testing the drones the country, footages of the testing and number of flying hours.

He asked if the ministry visited the manufacturer and demanded for copies of the minutes of the meetings between the ministry and manufacturer if the response is in the affirmative. He also inquired if the committee tasked to seal the deal consists of experts in the field, names of committee members, their qualifications and experience.

Moreover, the Secretariat General of the Assembly issued a copy of the National Assembly Law in braille for the blind. It confirmed that the issuance of this edition is in line with the decision of the Assembly Office. The Secretariat General started the translation of legislative sessions into sign language on Jan 10 in order for the deaf to follow up and attend the sessions, stressing all these are part of the commitment to care for people with special needs.

Lastly, Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun sent cables to his Pakistani counterpart Raja Pervais Asharaf and Senate President Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani to express condolences over the victims of the suicide bombing in a mosque in Beshawer. He prayed that Allah Almighty will have mercy on the victims and wished speedy recovery for the injured. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff