‘It is time for us to have something to be proud of ... and outdo others’
“LAST week, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia surprised the entire world with its bold agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran under Chinese auspices, to put an end to any threats and possibilities of military conflicts in which the first losers would be the Gulf states,” columnist Adnan Al-Othman wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“War is easy to ignite, but extinguishing it requires years, and this is what we learned from reading history, so Saudi Arabia was a giant in this agreement, but the Kuwaiti policy preceded, so what the Kingdom reached now was what the quiet diplomacy of Kuwait working behind the scenes and calling for it secretly and publicly to work towards peace in the region, and adopting the balanced policy in the region, something that Kuwait has excelled at the global level.
“The Gulf Cooperation Council, with its prestige in the hearts of the Gulf people, was Kuwait and the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah -- may God rest his soul in peace – was behind its establishment, and the influential Kuwaiti policy continued not only regionally but globally.
“The balanced policy that Kuwait and its rulers are well versed in is a diplomatic doctrine that extends from its inception, as its army in Yemen war participates with its brothers in defending the border. At the same time, it hosted the fighting parties on its land to end the conflict politically, and Kuwait did not deviate from the Gulf consensus, but did not participate in the crisis of the dispute with Qatar.
“We pray to God to bless him and grant him peace -- and the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs succeeded with all efficiency from the sons of the family, but why today am I talking about Kuwaiti politics the answer is clear.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet been affected by the infection of sluggishness and job congestion in a large way, which is based on connections, transportation and delegation, but members of our esteemed council recently questioned the appointments and we wonder: Why?
“I would like to respond as a citizen and tell these people, ‘This is not your job, and ‘Enough is enough’ to turn the nation into an army of employees, many of whom are crowded in offices with little real work, disguised unemployment fueled by the civil service law that kills creativity and gives promotions by seniority, and a system of failed evaluation, the majority takes a “privilege” and those who work and find time say why do I tire myself.
“Some say, ‘I work and others have promotions and do not work a 3-hour shift.’ We have to deal with others from one office to another. The important thing is, once again, please leave the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with you, and let us at least have something to be proud of and outperform others, which is the ‘prudent Kuwaiti policy’.
“On the occasion of the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan, I extend my warmest congratulations and sincere blessings to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and preserve him, and his trustworthy Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, and to all the good people of Kuwait, citizens and residents, and may you be rewarded.”
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“Many expected the ruling of the Constitutional Court on nullifying the 2022 National Assembly (2022) — non-experts and constitutional experts — for the simple reason that the then government refused to deal with the 2020 Assembly, so the latter was dissolved. The previous government should have worked with that Assembly first,” columnist Nasser Al-Abdali wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“If you find lack of cooperation with its components, then you can present a letter of non-cooperation. The decision lies in the hands of His Highness the Amir according to the Constitution.
“The government at that time, which requested for a solution, was laden with arguments that had no constitutional and legal bases or even political action. Dealing with political opponents in democratic countries must be done in the arena or field, not through a tweet here and there. The then government did something that had absolutely nothing to do with politics.
“That time, everything was unstudied and there was no serious thought about development. Voting with a civil identification card is required, but it should be approved first through voting in a session of the National Assembly, not through Article 71 of the Constitution, which was the reason for canceling many procedures.
Reforms and the Elections Commission are important for the development of the electoral process.
“These reform measures are supposed to take place away from the corrupt group of public money thieves. Their personal agenda penetrated the reform project and those in charge of it, thereby, confusing the arena until the masses can no longer distinguish who are proreform, and those trying to tamper with the priorities and needs of citizens to contradict and break State institutions. Thus, will this keep on happening until we recover the reform project?!”
“The current situation in the country is strange. Citizens are tired of the government’s persistence to disregard the required and important reform, which has pushed the country into further deterioration in all fields. Unfortunately, things do not bode well. Everyone is frustrated and waiting for serious change and the needed reform,” columnist Hamed Al-Saif wrote for Annahar daily.
“Citizens have had enough frustration and intimidation regarding their present and future… stop messing with them. Everyone wants reform. They hope that the decision-makers will seriously think about starting reform, which is long overdue. It led to the complexity of the country’s problem in terms of unusual mismanagement by all standards.
“The citizens’ request for decision-makers has become binding and serious. Steps must be taken before it is too late and the citizens regret everything in this country. The obvious and natural fact is that everyone is in the same boat, because whatever happens to the citizens in terms of negatives or positives will be reflected on the system to the same extent. Why does the system not work to bring its interest and that of citizens closer to the interest of this faltering country?
“It is a loving call for all of us to start thinking seriously and rightly for the country in terms of laying down serious steps toward reform for this poor and good country to recover.”
“If favoritism, ‘wasta’ (influence) and power of money play a dominant role for a citizen to be treated well in ministries and government departments, where does the oppressed citizen go? Is there an effective way to overcome artificial bureaucratic barriers?!” columnist Hamad Al-Amer wrote for Annahar daily.
“The answer is ‘yes’, successful officials follow an open-door policy in order to reveal the imbalances and shortcomings in the daily ministerial routine.
“Locally, we read and hear about the appeals of many citizens. They feel injustice whenever their transactions are not processed. Nevertheless, we see a real glimmer of hope in the presence of Hamad Badr Al-Amer -- Director of the Office of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf -- who receives complaints and appeals from citizens.
“Bureaucracy and the huge number of requests for cards, papers and documents obstruct the processing of citizens’ transactions and a lot of time is wasted in revisions. All these affect the citizen’s psyche, so we need directors of ministers’ offices with the dynamism of Mr Hamad Al-Amer in order to ease procedures for the citizen and eliminated the injustice caused by bureaucracy, nepotism and large number of requests for documents.”
“In the modern era, the circle of using information networks as a means of communication in various fields has expanded to achieve what humanity aspires for in terms of shortening time and distance, while reducing physical and mental efforts. These networks contain information in all fields -- personal, economic, scientific and other aspects of life,” columnist Dr Fares AlMetairie wrote for Annahar daily.
“The increasing use of such information networks and systems has led to many risks and a new type of crime called ‘information crimes’, which include embezzlement and forgery through electronic means, crimes against public morals, information theft, penetration of secret systems, and attacks on public and private funds and properties.
“Information technology means every electronic tool connected to information -- whether wired or wireless. Information crime means every act committed through the use of a computer, information network or other forms of information technology for storing data or information that are hacked, extracted, copied or sent through electronic means. The legislator laid down strict and varying penalties according to the gravity of the act.”