KUWAIT CITY, March 28: “We should maintain strong relations between Kuwait and other GCC countries. Launching a scathing attack against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not in the interest of Kuwait, considering the vital role it plays in the region and its support for the country during the Iraqi invasion,” says Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Al-Khorafi warned the negative statements will affect the relationship of Kuwait with the brotherly nations, which maintained an honorable stand towards the country and its people, especially during the Iraqi invasion and liberation. He hopes the exchange of negative statements between some citizens and lawmakers will stop soon; otherwise, the country will witness chaos. He stressed the need to strengthen national unity and relations between citizens and members of the Parliament.
Asked to comment on the call of some MPs to form ‘popular’ delegations to be sent to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to express support for both countries, Al-Khorafi clarified this is under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. However, if the need arises, the Parliament Office must study the suggestion to see how the delegates can help the government deal with the issue, he added.

In another development, Al-Khorafi confirmed receiving a request from Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs and State Minister for Housing and Development Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad for the proponents of his grilling, which is included in the agenda for the April 5 session, to clarify the interpellation points. Sheikh Ahmad wishes to receive a response from MPs Adel Al-Saraawi and Marzouq Al-Ghanem, who submitted the grilling request, before the session.
Al-Khorafi confirmed he will strictly comply with the standing order of the Parliament in case a large number of grilling requests are submitted; hence, the possibility of repeating a previous scenario in which four interpellations were conducted in one session.

Meanwhile, Development and Reform Bloc member MP Falah Al-Sawagh said they will speed up the procedures for the submission of a grilling request against Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mudhi Al-Humoud if she fails to punish the headmistress of a secondary school for allowing an unidentified person to deliver a lecture on ‘temporary’ marriage to the students.
Al-Sawagh asserted the bloc has been closely following up the issue in local newspapers, stating the headmistress of Khalida Bint Al-Aswad Secondary School for Girls in Salwa allowed the organization of a lecture on ‘temporary’ marriage - a sensitive topic that contradicts the moral principles of the Kuwaiti society. He urged the minister to expel the headmistress, especially after the parents and guardians staged a demonstration in front of the school to express their objection to the lecture. He added the protesters have given the minister only a couple of days to address the issue.
Moreover, Rapporteur of the parliamentary Public Utilities and Housing Affairs Committee MP Naji Al-Abdulhadi said the panel has received the timetable on the establishment of housing companies from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW). He blamed the government for the delayed implementation of the project due to its inability to lay down a mechanism for financing development projects within the agreed period.
Speaking to reporters after the panel’s meeting with the PAHW representatives, Al-Abdulhadi revealed the representatives briefed the committee on the timetable, which he described as logical and realistic.