Act tough: PM
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 19: Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed has asked ministers to take corrective steps against corruption in all ministries, particularly those which provide services to citizens and expatriates, reports Al-Dar daily.
Reliable sources said the Cabinet basically depends on State Audit Bureau's reports for assessment and based on these reports, it might send several recipients of illegal funds to investigation departments.
Sources affirmed that the government is keen on combating corruption and indicated that the steps taken by Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipal Affairs Fadhel Safar, Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Al-Haroun and Minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer are part of this strategy. Sources noted that ministers have been instructed not to succumb to parliamentary pressures and to enforce law on everyone without bias.
Meanwhile, MP Dr Rola Dashti lauded ministers for referring a number of employees and senior officials to Public Prosecution and said such people should be terminated from work and should not be allowed to participate in any government committee in the future. "The government should firmly and transparently punish any employee who violates laws and regulations, even if he is a senior leader in a ministry," she added.
MP Naji Al-Abdulhadi said we have asking the government since long to assess the performance of senior leaders, especially since a large number of them were appointed through 'wasta' or influence, which is the prime cause of corruption in the country.
He urged all ministers to be brave enough to enforce law, particularly Minister Fadhel Safar before disasters like the Kuwait Airways plane incident occur. He said he is focusing on the Ministry of Public Works because its activities are directly related to the lives of citizens and expatriates. Al-Abdulhadi called on Safar to confront all corrupt employees and not to give in to pressure while forming committees and appointing leaders.
© Arab Times 2010
