MPs discuss work program
Remittance tax not taken up
KUWAIT CITY, April 18: The National Assembly once again failed to discuss the issue of imposing tax on expatriate remittances during its Wednesday session and preferred to look into the issue during next session.
However, the Parliament discussed during the session the government work program for the fifteenth legislative term for (2016/2017 and 2019/2020) under the title ‘Towards Sustainable Development’.
At the beginning of the session, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad took to the floor to explain the vital important goals of the program.
He stressed, ‘the government will submit to the National Assembly sub-executive programs of government work within a period not exceeding six months.”
He added, the government’s work program focuses on its priorities during the next phase and look forward to be consistent with the priorities of the National Assembly taking into consideration all views and observations made by the parliamentarians in this regard.
He stressed, the priorities are development, reform and governance of public administration within the framework of an effective executive reform program and addressing all forms of corruption through what he called ‘an operational program of the national anti-corruption strategy’.
Also among these priorities is improving the business environment and the investment climate, thus contributing to the integration of the public and private sectors to attract investment.
He added, it is also a priority to develop the national information technology strategy through an operational program. The priorities also include reforming the education system, restructuring its institutions, raising its quality and linking its outputs to the needs of development and the labor market.
He pointed out among the priorities is the expansion of health services and the absorptive capacity of medical institutions and facilities and the involvement of the private sector, stressing the government is currently working on an integrated program in this regard.
Sheikh Nasser said, the priorities also include improving the performance of the Public Authority for Housing Welfare within the framework of an integrated strategy for urban and housing development.
He added, the priorities also include the development of northern Kuwait and the islands as part of an integrated project to transform this region and the Kuwaiti islands into a pillar of national economy and contributing to diversifying the economic base by creating more than 200,000 jobs and contribute to the diversification of sources of income.
He pointed out the vision of ‘Kuwait 2035’ is lofty vision. It is the vision of HH the Amir to build a future for the society by keeping pace with the developing world.
Commenting on the government work program the MPs called for the need to
develop the government administration and the administrative apparatus to be able to implement the program and achieve the aspirations of citizens.
They stressed on the need to choose ministers based on competence and open the way for young people in Kuwait, pointing out there is a need to have new names and new appointments.
They pointed out the problem lies in the instability of government decision, because laws exist but lacks application in addition to conflicts of interests.
The MPs called for reviving the role of the private sector in total transparency saying it cannot continue in the same manner.
Sustainable development, they said, requires attention of the individual and society and the state and demanded that the development plans be realized in this direction or else the pyramid will stand on its head.
The deputies pointed out that if the management is shaky money alone will not be able to achieve development. The output of education should be linked to the labor market and refrain political interventions in all issues so as not to disrupt the course.
They stressed, Kuwait needs not only a vision but also contribution, a parliamentary system and a new outlook.
After the session, the MPs held a press conference, in which they spoke about the amnesty law, which they demand its approval, to fold the issue of storming the National Assembly and amnesty for the accused, as well two convicted individuals in what they called ‘opinion cases’.
MP Abdulwahab Al-Babtain said the MPs are using their absolute right to pass the law of amnesty, and this fact must be proved, which a genuine right is given to the MPs.
He added that based on this right we say frankly that the page of the past must be turned over and the right should not be disputed by anyone.
Al-Babtain added, “I think our subject is a national youth and MPs who wanted to defeat corruption and to talk about the extent of agreement and difference, but the motive is national aimed at combating corruption and the corrupt.”
MP Osama Al-Shaheen stressed on MPs support for the law of amnesty.
MP Jama’an Al-Harbash thanked the national youth for their role, noting that there is a constitutional text on a comprehensive amnesty.
He added, “The legislator was wise and watchful and found two types: a special amnesty and a blanket amnesty.”
He added the accused in the case of storming the Parliament were discriminated against because from the 1,300 accused, the interior chose 70 and the rest were excluded from the case and six of them were fingerprinted and yet were excluded.
MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf read a statement on behalf of the MPs. He stated, based on our constitutional right, we declare our support for the proposal for a comprehensive amnesty for the accused in the case of storming the Parliament.
The Speaker of the Parliament, adjourned the session until May 1, 2018, and informed the MPs to collect all their documents because Student Parliament will be held Thursday, April 19, 2018.