MP’s request to name probe panel rejected
COVID committee turned down
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 9: The 2020 National Assembly looked into a total of 105 incoming letters – 46 in the first year and 59 in the second year; while 83 of these incoming letters were approved, three were rejected, 18 were reviewed and no decision was taken on one letter.
The incoming letters included 14 from the political leadership, three from the Assembly’s Secretary General, 42 from the chairpersons of parliamentary committees and 46 from the MPs.
During the first year of the 16th parliamentary term; 33 incoming letters were approved, two were rejected and 10 were reviewed. The second year witnessed the approval of 50 incoming letters, rejection of one and review of eight.
The Assembly received letters from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on March 30, 2021 – one to congratulate Marzouq Al-Ghanim on winning the speakership, response to the MPs who congratulated him for restoring Gulf unity through the reconciliation of Gulf countries, response to the greetings of MPs on the 60th National Day and 30th Liberation Day, and expression of gratitude for the MPs who congratulated him on his safe homecoming after undergoing overseas treatment. It also looked into similar letters from His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The Assembly approved the following letters during the same session:
Request of several MPs to assign the Health, Culture and Social Affairs Committee to investigate violation of law number 18/1969 concerning Kuwaiti workers in the oil sector;
Request of the Environment Affairs Committee to be given official instruction to analyze the environmental conditions in the country;
Request of the Education, Guidance and Culture Affairs Committee chairman to give the committee an official directive to conduct research on ways to develop media and culture, as well as removing obstacles to such development;
Request of the Education, Guidance and Culture Affairs Committee chairman to give the committee an official directive to study the factors leading to deterioration of education in public and private schools, obstacles to scientific research and delay in the issuance of the executive regulations for the Private Universities Law;
Request of the Women and Children Affairs Committee chairman to give the committee an official directive to do a research and submit a report on Article 135 of the Penal Code regarding honor killing;
Request of MPs Bader Al-Mullah and Yousef Al-Fadala to obligate the government to suspend armament deals until the Assembly is consulted in this regard.
On the other hand, the Assembly rejected the request of MP Hassan Jowhar to assign the Public Funds Protection Committee to investigate Kuwait Army Fund, Malaysian Sovereign Fund, Eurofighter and Raval armament deals.
On April 14, 2021, the Assembly looked into the letters of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince who responded to the MPs’ greetings on the advent of the Holy month of Ramadan.
It also approved the following letters:
Recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman to hire qualified Kuwaiti retirees to speed up the implementation of the Kuwaitization policy in consulates and embassies;
Request of MP Saleh Zeib Al-Mutairi to assign the Education, Guidance and Culture Affairs Committee to conduct a study and submit a report on paper-based exams for grade 12 students during the Covid-19 crisis.
In addition, the Assembly postponed the approval of the request of several MPs to form a committee of MPs like the ministerial committee tasked to follow up developments related to the Covid-19 crisis.
On Jan 4, 2021, the Assembly looked into the letter of His Highness the Amir, thanking the MPs for greeting him on the first anniversary of his leadership.
At the time, the Assembly also approved the request of MP Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi to assign the Public Facilities Committee to study the causes of delayed establishment of labor cities; and request of MPs Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi and Fayez Al-Jomhour to assign the Housing Affairs Committee to follow up the Mutla’a and South Abdullah Mubarak housing projects.
On Jan 18, 2021, the Assembly approved the request of MPs to assign the Public Facilities Committee to investigate the consequences of the strong rains that hit the country during New Year holiday.