Kuwait: Proposal seeks to increase ceiling of 'Fund for Needy' by KD1 billion

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KUWAIT CITY - The Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee of the National Assembly is scheduled to discuss on Sunday proposed amendments to the Fund for the Needy, which some lawmakers sponsored, reports Al-Sabah daily. A source said the proposed amendments include raising the fund's ceiling by one billion dinars, and the need to remove certain conditions. He pointed to a need for clearance from the Zakat house that an applicant is not receiving financial aid from the agency, and lowering the ceiling of debts' percentage from 50 percent to 30 percent are part of the conditions proposed for deletion. A particular MP affirmed that the issue will be discussed during the meeting but denied knowledge of government's intention to increase the fund's capital, the source reiterated.

Meanwhile,  MP Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak has raised a question to the Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah on reasons behind his refusal to grant citizenship to children who have reached the legal age, reports Al-Anba daily. Dr Al-Mubarak cited article 7 of the citizenship law issued by the Amiri Decree number 15/1959, which stipulates that children and grand children of beneficiaries, who have attained the legal age, while their parents have the opportunity, are qualified for citizenship. She added such applicants should meet the criteria specified in clauses two, three, and five of article 4 of the constitution, showing they must be consistently living in Kuwait for a minimum of 15 years before the period.

"The minister should justify reasons for excluding some children and grand children who meet the criteria, while their parents enjoy the opportunity," the lawmaker inquired.  In another development, five lawmakers have proposed the need to discuss, in the session scheduled for early December, decision by the Council of Ministers to confer the power of renewing leadership positions in government agencies on the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and State Minister for Development and Housing Affairs Sheikh Al-Fahad Al Sabah, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

MPs Abdullah Al-Roumi, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Adel-Al-Sara'awi, Saleh Al-Mullah and Abdul-Rahman Al-Anjeri argue the decision contradicts the Constitution, and are likely to present the proposal during the Nov 17 session.

A source quoted the lawmakers as saying government must present proof to clarify this prerogative and its justification, the daily added.

© Arab Times 2009