KUWAIT CITY, May 2: MP Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi has presented an additional amendment to the privatization draft bill to set up specialized committees in the Supreme Council for Planning, which will be tasked to identify standard specifications for products and services in specialized sectors. In a press statement Sunday, Al-Awadhi stressed the privatization process must guarantee major benefits for citizens by raising the standard of goods and services, as well as improving the living conditions of citizens. She said the privatization should be an integrated project in the interest of citizens, asserting that her proposed amendment on quality control is beneficial to the citizens as it is aimed at ascertaining the quality of the products and services in sectors which will be privatized.

Al-Awadhi suggested adding a paragraph in Article 23 of the bill as follows: “the Supreme Council for Planning shall form specialized committees to identify standard specifications for products and services in specialized sectors. Each of the committees will work on a particular sector, look into the supervision affairs, quality control, consumer protection, and ensure fair competition in the sector, pertaining to the facility which will be privatized.”

Meanwhile, although the previous National Assembly submitted several recommendations to tackle the price-hike phenomenon, prices are continuing to escalate, prompting some incumbent lawmakers to allocate two hours of the session scheduled for May 11 to discuss the issue and check what actions the government took, reports Al-Arrouiah daily. A parliamentary source said most recommendations submitted by the previous National Assembly focused on increasing the items offered to citizens through the ration cards, besides suggesting that cooperative societies be strictly supervised and the role of Cooperative Societies Union be activated.
The source stressed on the importance of activating the Consumer Protection Authority and added that “a proposal on granting ration cards to expatriates with low income and Bedouns will be discussed during the session.”
In a meantime, members of the Popular Labor Bloc will allegedly boycott the parliamentary Economic and Financial Affairs Committee meeting slated for Monday to finalize its report on the privatization draft bill, because the panel has rejected the amendments proposed by the bloc, reports Al-Huriyat daily quoting sources.

Rejected
Sources claimed the bloc has rejected the bill just to affirm its stand against the development agenda of the government, especially the vision to transform Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub in the region. Sources said the committee should prioritize the rights of workers in institutions which will be privatized.
In a related development, MP Naji Al-Abdulhadi has expressed optimism over the passage of the bill in its second reading. He clarified the bill aims to transform government establishments into shareholding national companies. He reiterated the bill will soon see the light, provided the plausible amendments are taken into consideration.
Al-Abdulhadi has accused some MPs, who demanded more changes on the bill, of impeding approval of the proposal as they have failed to present positive amendments. He asserted the bill does not contravene Article 152 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Al-Anba daily has reported that several MPs have agreed on the need to amend the Constitution to grant more freedoms.
MP Ali Al-Rashed had earlier called for amending the Constitution to expand the authority of the Parliament, organize work procedures in the executive, and increase the number of lawmakers.
MP Mubarak Al-Khurainej argued there is nothing wrong in amending the Constitution, especially if it leads to granting more freedoms. He stressed every parliamentarian has right to suggest amendments within the limits of their authority. He agreed with Al-Rashed on the need to increase the number of MPs due to the growing population in the country.