KUWAIT CITY, June 26: Several MPs -- including Mehalhal Al-Mudaf, Abdulkareem Al-Kandari, Abdullah Al-Mudaf, Khalid Al-Otaibi, Thamer Al-Suwait and others -- said they cannot approve a budget amounting to billions of Kuwaiti dinars for a resigned government as the latter cannot be subjected to questioning. These MPs announced their position on the budget at a dinner gathering organized by former MP Bader Al-Dahoum in honor of the lawmakers who staged a sit-in at the National Assembly building after boycotting the special session to vote on the Retirees Bill on June 14, 2022.

Most of those present at the event highly appreciated the response of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to those who staged the sit-in, particularly the decision to end the political crisis by dissolving the Assembly. Al-Suwait pointed out that the Amiri speech contains historic positions on parliamentary issues as they are in line with the wishes of the citizens.

The MPs disclosed that they will not attend the session slated for approval of the budget and financial status of the country unless a new prime minister is appointed and a new government is formed. Also, those present at the event stressed the need to boycott the by-elections that some tribes are expected to organize to choose their candidates for the next parliamentary elections.

Former MP Faisal Al-Muslim argued that by-elections weaken the political action and national unity, while former MP Mubarak Al-Waalan urged the citizens and opposition lawmakers to stand firm in voicing their demands which are in the interest of the nation. He said corruption has spread in the country; hence, the need for a thorough clean up. He added the decision to dissolve the Assembly is like cold ice which extinguished the political fire.

Development
In another development, MPs Mehalhal Al-Mudaf, Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi and Hamad Al-Matar submitted a bill on amending the Public Authority for Housing Welfare Law in order to grant subsidized construction materials valued at KD35,000 along with the housing loan to citizens. The bill mandates the state minister for housing affairs to specify the subsidized construction materials that will be granted to citizens.

Moreover, MP Muhannad Al-Sayer asked Minister of Health Dr Khalid Al-Saeed why the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) delayed the payment of subsidy for students with special needs. He wants to know the amount of subsidy and requested for a list of students whose subsidy has yet to be paid.

MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari forwarded queries to Minister of Finance and State Minister for Economic and Investment Affairs Abdulwahab Al-Rashead about the closure of the Integrated Services Center at Kuwait Credit Bank (KCB). He inquired about the legal basis for establishing the center, departments where the employees of the center will be transferred, allowances granted to employees and senior officials at the center since its establishment till date, list of employees assigned at the Technical Office of the bank and the center, if it is true that their allowances will be cancelled once transferred to other departments, and tasks for which they received allowances.

Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim sent cables to Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar Christine Razanamahasoa and Senate President Heremanana Razafi- mahefa to greet them on their National Day. He also sent a cable to Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Esperanca Bias to greet her on the National Day of Mozambique. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff