MPs eye SAB’s study on measures taken by govt to fight coronavirus By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Hammad expresses gratitude to HH Amir over citizens’ evacuation
KUWAIT CITY, April 20: MPs Muhammad Al-Dallal and Osama Al-Shaheen have presented a proposal to the National Assembly on assigning the State Audit Bureau (SAB) to conduct a comprehensive study and submit a report about the financial and administrative measures taken by the government to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Al-Dallal affirmed this proposal is in line with the Constitution and Assembly Decree, which allow the Assembly to assign the relevant monitoring institutions like SAB to present reports on certain issues; adding this authority is also given to the parliamentary Budgets and Final Accounts Committee. He said the proposal will not affect negatively the efforts being exerted by the government to address the crisis.
He asked the government to launch a website and social media accounts to publish all the measures being taken, especially those related to tenders and direct contracts. He believes this step will silence the skeptics and strengthen the citizens’ trust in the government. “Don’t steal and don’t be afraid,” he concluded.
In another development, MP Sa’adoun Hammad expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for the evacuation of citizens from abroad. He disclosed the initial plan of the government was to evacuate citizens from different countries within 10 months; but thanks to the Amir’s directive, the completion of the task has been expedited. He added he was one of those who called for evacuating the citizens despite the objection of many individuals.
Close
Meanwhile, Hammad asked Minister of Education Dr Soud Al-Harbi to close the academic year, allow the 11th grade students to move to the next grade and consider the results of the first term exams of grade 12 students as their final marks. He added he knows that Al-Harbi is being pressured by owners of private schools which are keen on collecting fees, but the minister should work in the interest of the public.
He also urged Al-Harbi to take into consideration the statement of Health Minister Dr Bassel Al-Sabah that the coronavirus crisis will continue until the end of 2020.
He then appealed to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid to issue a decision on closing the academic year, similar to the decision of Saudi Arabia which announced the movement of all students to the next academic level and the results of first term exams for grade 12 students as their final marks.
On the other hand, MP Saleh Ashour suggested obligating countries, which refused to receive their citizens, to pay for their citizens’ stay and the health services provided to them in Kuwait.
He also demanded for a thorough review of the decision to close repair shops for cars and air-conditioning units to end the suffering of many citizens. He said the decision resulted in a black market for such services; hence, the need to reopen these shops while ensuring strict compliance with the protection procedures.
In a related development, State Minister for Municipality Affairs Eng Walid Al-Jassim confirmed the ministry is currently studying the possibility of reopening car repair shops in cooperative societies; stressing the ministry is keen on finding a safe mechanism to address this issue.
In addition, MP Safa’a AlHashem emphasized the need to end the expatriate consultants’ “invasion” of public institutions. She asserted it is unacceptable that 30 consultants from one Arab country are appointed at the Fatwa and Legislation Department and they are receiving huge salaries. She revealed the State paid for the one-year stay of one of these consultants in a five star hotel.
She added it is now time to replace expatriate consultants with citizens who have proven their capability and efficiency, especially during this crisis, as they have been working hard in place of expatriates and everything is going well.