Speaker, 27 MPs undergo COVID-19 test

Panel OKs bill on toughening penalties for violations

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh

KUWAIT CITY, March 23: As part of preparations for the parliamentary session scheduled for Tuesday; 27 MPs, including Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, underwent the coronavirus test on Sunday.

In a press conference, Al-Ghanim disclosed that he received an invitation from HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled to attend the Cabinet meeting on Monday; during which important decisions were taken. He added HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended the meeting.

He also thanked the Legislative Affairs and Health Affairs committees for completing their reports on urgent bills, which will be discussed in the upcoming session. He said he feels that most of the MPs agree on ratifying these bills.

He then pointed out there could be some problems at the start of enforcing the curfew, urging everyone to cooperate so the relevant authorities can do their jobs easily and efficiently.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Services and National Assembly Affairs Mubarak Al-Harees went to the Assembly on Sunday to coordinate with Al-Ghanim regarding the session slated for Tuesday. He clarified the ministers will undergo the medical test in the Council of Ministers, not the Assembly.

Also, in a press conference, Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee MP Khalid Al-Shatti revealed that the committee approved the bill on toughening penalties for those who will violate regulations on protecting the public from infectious diseases.

He said the committee will refer the bill to its health affairs counterpart for approval prior to tabling it for discussion in the Assembly.

He added the committee also approved the bill amending trial procedures in order to suspend counting of the grace period for filing appeals during vacations and suspension of work in public institutions, similar to the current situation.

He affirmed the bill is very important as it will prevent a crisis that might emerge if more than 15,000 appeals are filed on the first day of resuming work.

On the other hand, MP Talal AlJalal called on Minister of Public Works Dr Rana Al Fares to take advantage of the curfew to repair roads damaged by heavy rains.