KUWAIT CITY, March 14: MPs Faisal Al-Duwaisan, Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak, Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, Saleh Ashour and Dr Rola Dashti have presented a draft bill on the publication of electoral campaign advertisements in television, radio and newspapers.
In their explanatory note, the MPs explained the bill aims to regulate procedures for the publication of campaign slogans in television, radio and newspapers to eliminate discrimination.  They claimed some media institutions support their preferred candidates in parliamentary and Municipality elections, but refuse to publish the campaign ads of other candidates - an outright violation of the principle of equality and impartiality in the media.
The bill also prohibits any form of campaign on election day. Candidates are not allowed to use more than 50 percent of their campaign expenses for a particular media institution.  It gives the licensed institutions right to direct comprehensive coverage of the electoral process, as well as broadcast the campaign seminars of candidates, in accordance with the Audio-Visual Law.
Other stipulations of the bill require the media institutions to provide a list of prices, ban free advertising for candidates, and regulate the process of analyzing public opinion to maintain their credibility and prevent any undue influence on the decision of voters.
Meanwhile, Chairman of parliamentary Finance and Economic Affairs Committee MP Dr Yousef Al-Zalzalah affirmed Sunday a report on the Privatization Law will be finalized soon as there is only one remaining article, which stipulates the benefits of employees in the privatized sectors.
Speaking to reporters after the committee meeting, Al-Zalzalah explained the panel has completed a draft of the report, confirming the panel will meet with officials of Public Authority for Social Security (PASS) on Monday to finalize the report on Monday.  He said the remaining article states that any employee who wishes to leave the institution after its privatization or does not want to work for the government and prefers retirement, will be given a grace period of five years to prepare for his retirement as per the agreement of the authority and government in this regard.
Asked about the sectors that will be privatized, Al-Zalzalah admitted this is beyond the jurisdiction of the committee as it is under the Supreme Council for Privatization with the supervision of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and a number of ministers.
Furthermore, the parliamentary Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee deliberated Sunday on many important issues, including the women civil and social rights law.
Committee Rapporteur MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei disclosed the panel has agreed to ask the opinion of the Ministry of Awqaf regarding this law.  He said the committee approved many proposals, such as that of MP Saleh Ashour on granting every Kuwaiti household head KD10,000 to help the citizens overcome their financial burdens, but  the committee suggested granting KD5,000 to every Kuwaiti adult to avoid conflict among family members.  However, the committee rejected a proposal on establishing the so-called ‘municipality governorates,’ he added.
Also, the Public Amenities Committee approved the proposal of MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri to establish a modern printing press for the publication of the Holy Quran under the supervision of the Ministry of Awqaf.