MOI denies midnight shop closure reports
Municipality says proposal still being studied
KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry yesterday categorically denied reports on various media regarding the ministry’s intention to close restaurants, shops and cafes by midnight on weekdays and at 1:00 am on weekends and public holidays. The security media department, in a statement, denied issuing such a decision, saying the reports were “baseless”. The statement added that if a decision is issued, the ministry will issue a clear statement detailing any actions it will take within its jurisdictions.
Yesterday’s clarification came after the report caused much consternation and discussion in Kuwait. The Interior Ministry also took to the airwaves to distance itself from the proposal. In a live call with a local radio station, Brig Adel Al-Hashash, Director of the Interior Ministry’s Public Relations and Moral Guidance Department and Acting Director of the Security Media Department, noted that the ministry is not in charge of closing businesses, as there are other public institutions in charge such as the Ministry of Commerce and the Municipality.
Meanwhile, Municipality officials announced at a press conference yesterday that they are studying the issue but no final decision has been taken on its implementation. Technically, the Municipality has the power to set the closing times of businesses. “During our meeting with Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security at the Ministry of Interior Maj Gen Abdulfatah Al-Ali last week, we discussed the issue of closing all commercial activities in residential, commercial, investment and industrial areas. But no decision has been taken yet. The entire issue is still under study,” General Director of the Municipality Ahmad Al-Subaih told reporters.
According to him, this decision was first issued in 2004 and was not applied for more than a few days. “Abdulfatah Al-Ali proposed to reapply this decision for security reasons based on various complaints from the public. The Municipality is responsible to set the working hours of various institutions, so we can make changes in favor of the public and security. Ali will meet with the directors of the municipal branches of all the six governorates to discuss this issue,” added Subaih.
If this decision is enforced, various sanctions will be applied against violators. “Inspectors will be from both the Municipality and the Ministry of Interior. Violating cafes and shops will be closed and fined, and the case will be sent to court. If a certain outlet doesn’t cooperate with us, the Ministry of Interior will assist the inspector of the Municipality,” he pointed out.
The reports published in the press yesterday said shops, restaurants, cafes, billiard halls and similar businesses should close by midnight during weekdays and by 1:00 am on weekends in all residential, commercial and investment areas. Shops in the industrial areas of Shuwaikh, Sharq, Ardiya, Subhan, Fahaheel and others will have to close by 10:00 pm.