KUWAIT CITY, Oct 30: Kuwait’s opposition has requested a meeting with HH the Amir to press for the removal of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah over alleged corruption, MPs said Sunday.

The decision came following a meeting by 19 opposition MPs in the 50-member parliament Saturday night to “study specific steps that would ensure changing the prime minister,” MP Faisal Al-Muslim said.
“The opposition group has officially asked the royal diwan for a meeting with the Amir next week,” independent opposition MP Mohammad al-Mutair told reporters after the meeting.

Before Saturday’s meeting, MPs signed a document prepared by youth activists in which the lawmakers pledged they would continue to work until they topple the government.

Sheikh Nasser, 71, a senior member of the ruling family and a nephew of the Amir, has been embroiled in almost non-stop disputes with the opposition since he was appointed to the post in February 2006.
He was forced to resign six times and reshuffle his cabinets several times, in addition to dissolving parliament and holding fresh elections on three occasions.

Disputes intensified in the past few weeks after reports that about 15 MPs have allegedly accepted bribes, estimated at $350 million, apparently as a price for voting in parliament.

The public prosecutor has opened an unprecedented investigation into the case after several local banks referred accounts held by MPs on suspicions of receiving huge illegal deposits.

Some prominent opposition MPs have linked the government to the alleged bribes and accused the prime minister of transferring public funds into his personal accounts overseas. The charges were categorically denied.

The pending interpellations against Sheikh Nasser will be postponed until after the meeting, Al-Muslim stated.

Al-Muslim further said that tribal MP Hussein Mezyed has formally joined the opposition bloc bringing the number of opposition MPs to 20; however Shiite MP Hassan Jowhar and the National Action Bloc are also expected to join soon, which will bring an end to Sheikh Nasser and the bribed lawmakers, he said.
Sheikh Nasser’s best decision would be to resign for the sake of the country’s development and economy, Al-Muslim stressed. The option of government and parliament disbandment is also an effective solution, according to the opposition MP, as corrupt lawmakers and executive officials won’t be protected by immunity and will be held accountable for involvement in the suspicious million-dinar deposit activity.
Al-Muslim added that soon headlines will read the end of the corrupt government and bribed parliament. Nearly 21 MPs have expressed no confidence in the PM by boycotting joining parliamentary committees. He urged Speaker of Parliament, Jassem Al-Khorafi, to speak honestly to His Highness the Amir as the National Assembly has become paralyzed and the best solution will be to dissolve both authorities.
Earlier on Sunday, MP Mezyed had announced his resignation from the Public Utilities and Petition and Complaints committees. Meanwhile, MP Hassan Jowhar announced he will suspend his membership of parliamentary committees until the issue of MPs’ suspicious finances is resolved. He further stated he will not be a false witness to the tampering of reports in parliamentary committees. Jowhar warned the Ministry of Interior and Public Prosecution of investigating lawmakers before requesting the lifting of their parliamentary immunity from the National Assembly.

Al-Muslim further expressed that it is ridiculous to cast blame on opposition MPs for refraining from joining committee as parliament by-laws do not force MPs to join committees, only highly recommend doing so. He said that other MPs, such as Hussein Al-Qallaf, have spent years working in the parliament without joining any committees. 

Meanwhile, outspoken MP Musallam Al-Barrak said that 22 MPs are currently in opposition and the number is expected to increase, demanding the ouster of the PM and his government. He stated the situation has become unbearable and the Kuwaiti people are clearly expressing their anger in that regard. Al-Barrak accused the PM of using all possible means to merely keep his position as prime minister.

For his part, opposition MP Jamaan Al-Harbash said that Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah knows fully well that 25 MP will vote in favor of no-confidence. Therefore, he said, the PM will attempt to refer all grilling requests against him to the suspicious Legal and Legislative Committee. Al-Harbash stated that opposition MPs are waiting for the rest of MPs to resign from their committees and announce non-cooperation with the government.