Assembly Office discuss economic issues
‘MPs urge govt to withdraw Public Loan Bill’
KUWAIT CITY, April 9: The National Assembly Office on Wednesday discussed a number of economic issues and the government’s Public Loan Bill with the ministerial Economic Affairs Committee and senior government officials.
Present at the meeting were Minister of Social Affairs and State Minister for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel, Minister of Finance Barrak Al-Shitan, Minister of Oil Dr Khalid Al-Fadel, Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalid Al-Rawdan, State Minister for Services and National Assembly Affairs Mubarak Al-Harees, Central Bank of Kuwait Governor Dr Muhammad Al-Hashel, Secretary General of the Assembly Allam Al-Kandari and 20 MPs.
Assembly Speaker Marzouq AlGhanim informed the journalists after the meeting that the MPs asked the government to withdraw the Public Loan Bill and to make the necessary changes considering the current crisis – coronavirus pandemic. He stressed that the bill will not obtain the support of the majority; hence, it will not be ratified. He disclosed the MPs urged the government to submit a clear economic strategy to deal with the crisis.
He added several suggestions and alternatives were tackled in the meeting, revealing the MPs listened to the presentation of Central Bank of Kuwait Governor Dr Muhammad AlHashel about the financial situation of the State. He explained that he cannot divulge the figures mentioned in the presentation, but he can affirm the meeting was positive. “Whenever the government submits a bill on financial issues, it is usually requested to define the items where the money will be spent in order to close the door before the cynics who keep on interpreting issues wrongly,” he asserted.
On the other hand, MP Ali AlDaqbasi said the government confirmed that a decision was taken to suspend the collection of payments for the loans which the retirees obtained from the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS). He disclosed the Fatwa and Legislation Department will present its legal opinion on the issue within a couple of days to determine if a special legislation is required or if a decision taken by the finance minister upon approval of the Board of Directors of PIFSS is enough.
Meanwhile, MP Omar Al-Tabtabaie criticized the absence of some ministers in the current crisis; but he praised the performance of several senior officials, especially Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Dr Abdulmuhsen Al-Hewailah.
He thanked Al-Hewailah for his decision to instruct private schools to accept students who are willing to enroll in the online education program. He said these schools initially violated the regulations stated by the Ministry of Education to organize online education program before April 1. He added these schools violated the Cabinet’s decision to launch online educational program by April 1, since they launched their own programs earlier and refused to register students after April 1 under the pretext that it is too late for them to do so.
He also expressed gratitude to AlHewailah for ordering the schools to refund the fees that parents paid for the transportation of their children.
In addition, MP Riyad Al-Adasani announced that he will grill Minister of Finance Barrak Al-Shitan on the financial situation of the State.
He disclosed the grilling points include several issues; such as the vague economic strategy, poor management and the Central Bank of Kuwait’s refusal to open investigation on local banks and companies implicated in fraud crimes committed by an Asian businessman estimated at billions of US dollars.