Panel discusses new bills
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 11: Anti-corruption laws are vital in protecting public funds from unscrupulous officials who take advantage of their posts to squander the nation's wealth for personal gains, says Chairman of the parliamentary Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee MP Hussein Al-Huraiti.
Speaking to reporters after the panel meeting on Sunday, Al-Huraiti confirmed some MPs have presented five new bills on the establishment of public authorities for probe and accountability and administrative control, in addition to assets declaration. He said the panel has instructed its consultants to study the bills to be ready for deliberations in its meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He disclosed Deputy Premier for Legal Affairs and Minister of Justice, Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammed Al-Afasi will be invited to the meeting on Wednesday, while the lawmakers will be invited to Tuesday's meeting, to finalize discussions on the bills.
Al-Huraiti clarified the panel discussed 18 bills related to anti-corruption in its previous meetings, some of which were attended by the government but it opposed the assets declaration bill. "We asked the government to present its official stand on the issue in written form but the committee has not received any response since the resignation of the former government. I hope the reports will be finalized prior to the start of the next legislative round," he said.
© Arab Times 2011
