Call to commit to democratic principles

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 27: Parliamentary Committees, excluding the Interior and Defense, Public Utilities and the Bedoun Affairs Committees, smoothly elected their leaders on Wednesday giving a glimmer of hope to the new term that is expected to be full of political disputes and requests for interpellation.
MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari announced his election to the position of rapporteur of the Finance and Economic Committee and the election of his colleague Dr Yousef Al-Zalzalah to the post of committee chairman.

MP Hussein Al-Huraiti was elected as chairman of Legislative and Legal Committee and MP Dr Massouma Al-Mubarak its rapporteur after competing against MP Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaei and receiving five votes.

Al-Huraiti assured that the members of his committee will continue its efforts to resolve and implement the proposed projects assigned to it and thanked Khalid Tahous, Mohemmed Hayef and Salem Al-Namlan for the previous committee's efforts.

Meanwhile, Dr Massouma Al-Mubarak announced that she had been elected to head the Women and Family Affairs Committeee, while her colleague, Dr Salwa Al-Jassar was elected to be its rapporteur.
Al-Mubarak said that there are vital cases to be reviewed by the committee such as the amended Civil Services Law as well as cases which were rejected by the National Assembly during the previous session. She added that there will be additional health, work and accommodation rights the committee will discuss and pursue.

"There are many additional laws we will pursue this term pertaining to the family such as children's rights. The completion of our busy schedule is our primary goal," Al-Mubarak said.

Responding to accusations that female MPs have not been working for the benefit of Kuwaiti women, Dr Al-Mubarak said that the previous committee's accomplishments with the Civil Services Law that has provided job rights for women, was proof enough of the MPs' work ethic and intentions.
"Those who are fighting the committee are already against women working in the parliament to begin with," she added.

On his part, Defense and Interior Committee member, MP Salem Al-Namlan commented that elections for his committee have been postponed as members were held up with pressing issues outside the National Assembly.

He added that there are ongoing and friendly negotiations regarding who would preferably be elected as rapporteur and chairman, noting that discussions have not entered the formal stage as nominees were not announced during a formal meeting as of yet.

Al-Namlan expressed hope that the spirit of love prevails and that Kuwait's interests are taken above all else as the committee members are all equal serving the nation and its citizens.

Meanwhile, newly-elected Rapporteur of the Finance and Economic Committee, MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, revealed to the press on Wednesday that he will request the withdrawal of the committee's report on the draft bill of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) that was referred to the National Assembly before the new legislative term.

He described the report as "hamburger sandwich" as it was compiled hurriedly and criticized the draft bill for its attempt to subject the KCCI to the authority of Minister of Commerce.

"There isn't a country in the world that has a chamber of commerce under the authority of an executive body. Even communist countries have made their chambers of commerce independent from their government so as not to subject them to political blackmail," Al-Anjari explained.

Permanent Committees
Response to the Amiri Address:
Chairman: Hassan Jowhar (Shiite/Islamist)
Rapporteur: Rola Dashti (Shiite/Liberal)
Petitions and Complaints
Chairman: Khaled Al-Adwah (Tribal)
Rapporteur: Hussein Mezyed (Independent/Tribal)
Economic and Financial Affairs
Chairman: Yousef Al-Zalzalah (Shiite/Islamist)
Rapporteur: Abdulrahman Al-Anjari (Liberal)
Legal and Legislative Affairs
Chairman: Hussein Al-Huraiti (Tribal)
Rapporteur: Maasouma Al-Mubarak (Shiite)
Education, Culture and Guidance Affairs
Chairman: Jamaan Al-Harbash (Islamist/ICM)
Rapporteur: Mohammad Al-Huwaila (Tribal)
Health and Social Affairs
Chairman: Rola Dashti (Shiite/Liberal)
Rapporteur: Saleh Ashour (Shiite)
Foreign Affairs
Chairman: Mubarak Al-Khurainej (Independent/Tribal)
Rapporteur: Dulaihi Saad Al-Hajri (Tribal)
Budgets and Final Accounts
Chairman: Adnan AbdulSamad (Shiite/Islamist)
Rapporteur: Adel Al-Saraawi (Islamist/Salaf)
Protection of Public Funds
Chairman: Musallam Al-Barrak (Tribal/Nationalist)
Rapporteur: Faisal Al-Muslim (Islamist)
Temporary Committees
Housing Affairs
Chairman: Ahmad Al-Saadoun (Conservative)
Rapporteur: Naji Al-Abdulhadi Conservative)
Handicapped Affairs
Chairman: Ali Al-Deqbasi (Independent/Tribal)
Rapporteur: Falah Al-Sawagh (Tribal/ICM)
Environment and Nuclear Energy
Chairman: Ali Al-Omair (Islamist/Salaf)
Rapporteur: Aseel Al-Awadhi (Liberal)
Human Rights
Chairman: Waleed Al-Tabtabaei (Islamist/Salaf)
Rapporteur: Pending
Negative Phenomenon
Chairman: Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi (Islamist/Salaf)
Rapporteur: Waleed Al-Tabtabaei (Islamite/Salaf)
Women and Family Affairs
Chairman: Maasouma Al-Mubarak (Shiite)
Rapporteur: Salwa Al-Jassar (Independent)

"The Kuwaiti nation must remain committed to the principles of democracy and respect the outcome of the elections at the beginning of the third ordinary session of the 13th legislative round on Tuesday," says National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi.

Calling on the people to strictly comply with the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at the opening of this legislative round, Al-Khorafi compared the Amir's speech to "a torch that lights the path of the citizens."

Al-Khorafi admitted he believes the temporary committees are just an added burden to the permanent panels but he must respect the election results and he hopes everybody does the same.
Commenting on allegations that some MPs are now in the "pocket of the government", Al-Khorafi stressed, "We have to carefully choose our words.  Can a pocket accommodate human beings? If we are a real democratic nation, both the government and Parliament should abide by Article 50 of the Constitution, which stipulates the separation of functions among authorities."

Asked about the priorities of the executive and legislative authorities, Al-Khorafi said, "I think is better than laying down our priorities. We have to focus on the major issues and ensure the implementation of vital development projects. The two authorities must set aside their differences and work hand-in-hand to serve the interest of the nation."

On the other hand, MP Hussein Al-Qallaf accused some parties of manipulating the election process, which led to the abolition of the Youth and Sports Committee and retention of its negative phenomenon counterpart. He claimed the abolition of the committee is an attempt to protect those involved in the sports issue, especially since several lawmakers had previously threatened to submit interpellation requests against the concerned ministers.

Meanwhile, Al-Qallaf voiced optimism on the Bedoun issue, considering the Amir, in his inaugural speech, stressed the need to focus on national projects, which include addressing the problems of Bedouns. He disclosed receiving information from Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah on the submission of a comprehensive project for Bedouns to the Cabinet, while Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs and State Minister for Housing and Development Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Fahd Al-Sabah confirmed the government is currently studying the project.

© Arab Times 2010