LAWMAKER URGES MINISTER BUQAMAZ TO CONSIDER RESIGNATION

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 5: MP Muhammad Al-Rujaib revealed that he has submitted the priorities for the upcoming parliamentary term to the coordinating committee. Based on his perspective, he divided the priorities in the following manner:

1. Improving the citizens’ standard of living, which include increasing the cost of living allowance from KD 120 to KD 250 per month, increasing the children allowance, amending the laws concerning the retirees to increase the minimum amount of pension, sharing the profits of the Public Institution for Social Security with the retirees, canceling usury loans for retirees, increasing rent allowance and increasing the allowance allocated to students to meet the growing inflation rates.

2. Dealing with infrastructure and housing issues, which include buying the houses located in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and distributing the plots to the housing applicants, toughening the penalties imposed on the violating contractors, completing the infrastructure in the new residential areas before starting the distribution of plots, and continuing to pay rent allowance to beneficiaries for two years after connecting electricity.

3. Tackling employment-related issues, which include ratifying the strategic alternative, increasing the national labor allowance allocated to citizens working in the private sector, amending the law of the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises, compensating the owners of small enterprises who suffered damages during COVID- 19 crisis, amending chapter 5 of the law of the Public Institution for Social Security, allowing the appointment of citizens in all public institutions with no exceptions, and linking the employment systems of the entire public institutions to the automated system of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Solving education-related issues, which include amending the education and teacher profession law, and improving educational levels to meet the international criteria related to the classification of educational institutions.

5. Enhancing the health sector, which includes establishing a national center for health to ensure the quality of medical service provided to patients, and amending the law on the establishment of health zones.

6. Handling matters related to national identity and citizenship, which include amending the law related to theAdministrative Court to extend its authority to judge the cases concerning granting and withdrawal of Kuwaiti citizenship, ratifying the law on granting civil right to the illegal residents (Bedoun residents), and amending the audiovisual law to increase freedoms and nullify the imprisonment penalties.

Al-Rujaib insisted that cooperation with the government is linked to the latter’s commitment to respond to popular demands as well as the need for the government to take the necessary procedures to carry out the execution of the Amiri amnesty and ensure it covers all the beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, MP Meteb Ayed Al-Anzi submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister of Commerce and Industry and the State Minister of Youth Affairs Muhammad Al-Aiban, asking him about the business licenses suspended for Kuwaiti citizens, and a copy of the suspension decision. He wanted to know the reasons behind the suspension, and asked if any businesses have been exempted from suspension in the last ten years.

Regarding to the grilling motion filed recently by MP Mubarak Al-Tasha against the Minister of Public Works Dr. Amani Buqamaz, more than ten MPs announced their support of it including MP Jinan Boushahri, MP Abdul Kareem Al-Kandari, MP Hamad Al-Obaid, MP Muhammad Al- Mahan, MP Bader Nashmi Al-Anzi, MP Muhannad Al-Sayer, MP Hamad Al-Elyan and MP Fahd Al-Masoud. MP Jinan Boushahri said she supports the grilling motion especially the first item concerning the failure to carry out any road maintenance, which she had highlighted a few days back.

Also, the response of the State Audit Bureau (SAB) to questions revealed that the relevant tenders do not match the statements issued by MP Buqamaz. MP Abdul Kareem Al-Kandari said Dr. Buqamaz fulfilled none of her commitments, affirming his support for the grilling motion. MP Muhammad Al-Rujaib stressed the need for Dr. Buqamaz to face the grilling motion for citizens to figure out who supports corruption and for the government to realize the fact that the MPs will not flatter anyone against the citizens’ interests.

MP Hamad Al-Obaid also supported the grilling motion, insisting that Dr. Buqamaz has been granted enough time but she has not made any serious efforts to maintain the roads or punish those responsible. MPs Muhammad Al-Mahan and Bader Nashmi Al-Anzi stressed the fact that Dr. Buqamaz took more than enough time but ended up wasting the chance to meet the promises through her inaction. MP Badr Sayyar Al-Shammari said it is better for Dr. Buqamaz to resign willingly in order to save the time of the parliament.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff