Lawmakers reject PIFSS, KISR budgets, approve six others

The National Assembly yesterday rejected the 2017/2018 budget of the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) amid strong criticism of the institution’s investment policies and the many remarks made by the Audit Bureau. The house also rejected the budget and final accounts of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. But the Assembly approved the budgets of other authorities including the much-criticized Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources after the concerned minister pledged to take all the necessary measures to stop violations and alleged corruption.

The other budgets passed are of the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), Public Authority for Manpower, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and Kuwait Municipality. MPs continued for the second day running their strong criticism of PIFSS and PAAAFR over alleged corruption and mismanagement.

MP Abdulwahab Al-Babtain wondered how PIFSS takes its investment decisions when it has only one auditor. He said the former absconding director of the institution had formed a panel to take decisions on high-risk investments.

He said the Assembly wants to know if these establishments and authorities are run in a professional way or are considered as the ownership of its managers.

MP Saleh Ashour criticized ministers who are not even following the debates of agencies under them, adding that ministers could face “black days” soon. He expected that the second term starting in October could witness confrontations between the Assembly and lawmakers, adding that if the prime minister wants to cooperate with the Assembly, he should reshuffle a number of his Cabinet ministers.

MP Khalil Abul said that the Assembly should reject the budgets of authorities and agencies that do not respect themselves and the Assembly. MP Youssef Al-Fadhalah said those who manage the investments of PIFSS are expatriates who are not specialized, while specialist Kuwaitis are jobless. State Minister for Municipality Mohammad Al-Jabri, who supervises the agricultural authority, acknowledged that the remarks and criticism of MPs against PAAAFR are correct, adding that many violations have been dealt with in the past three months. He said that important changes have been made at the authority and all the assistant undersecretaries have been retired. He said officials who committed violations have been referred to the public prosecution.