KUWAIT CITY, May 30, (Agencies): Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi, said Monday that a Cabinet member who might face grilling by MPs was free to choose the necessary legal or constitutional means, or take the floor to answer questions.
“A minister can seek help from his consultants or the concerned parliamentary committees to verify the legality of the items of a grilling,” Al-Afasi said.
He made the comments after attending a meeting by the National Assembly (Parliament) committee on negative phenomena.
“If there is any ambiguity, the minister can seek a legal advice from the Constitutional Court or the National Assembly’s committee on legislative and legal affairs.
“The Cabinet made it clear that any minister is fully responsible for the way of handling any grilling and has to bear the consequences of their own decisions,” Al-Afasi asserted.
Asked about the draft cooperatives act, the minister said the government introduced no changes to the draft and still backs the blueprint unanimously agreed up by the government and the parliamentary committee on social and health affairs.
“The draft is on the agenda of the National Assembly and could be brought to parliamentary vote in the second reading next week,” he revealed.
Al-Afasi added that a draft bill on the national authority for manpower is about to be finalized after the Civil Service Commission nodded its approval to most of the articles of the bill.
Meanwhile, renowned researcher Aisha Al-Rashid has urged lawmakers to exercise caution in the way they take to the streets, saying such behavior portends danger to national unity, peace and stability, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
She described the act as the ‘ways of failures’ who couldn’t find their way in the Parliament and also which lacks the backing of the public. Al-Rashid further expressed fears that such street protests, which are alien to the Kuwaiti society, may turn into street battles between the two sides. She pointed out to the slogans and statements used by lawmakers, saying they are incompatible with the situation in Kuwait and are being used just to foment chaos. She also expressed fears that the law and the Constitution have ceased to be arbitrator in the political affairs of the country, urging the government and well-meaning citizens to prevent Kuwait from being drawn into a dark tunnel with no light at the end.
Meanwhile, MP Khaled Al-Tahous held a press conference to expose the inappropriate transactions processed in the defense ministry. Stating that public money is being wasted in a manner that shouldn’t be condoned, he claimed that he possesses documents showing that some projects in the ministry are aimed at making some people richer and pointed out that due processes were neglected in these projects despite the warnings and observations of the Audit Bureau. He said Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will have to face a parliamentary questioning on these issues.