KUWAIT CITY, Dec 16: Attorney Faisal Besheer Al-Otaibi, a candidate contesting from the Fifth Constituency, called on the government to adjust the salary structure of Kuwaitis working in public sector institutions in such a way that the gap between the employees who were granted increments and those who weren’t is filled up, reports Alam-Alyawm daily.
He blamed the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the gap, saying its policies have led to discrimination among employees who hold the same academic qualifications. He said all the protests and strikes taking place in the country are due to government’s partial policies.
Al-Otaibi hinted that some government organizations do not grant regular increments to their employees and said CSC is directly responsible for this discrimination.
Meanwhile, Nabila Al-Anjari, who is contesting from the Third Constituency, said voters will decide the future of the country as they have the power to choose candidates who can help achieve development and control corruption, reports Al-Jarida daily.
She stressed the necessity of maintaining national unity and called for activating laws that ensure safety. Stating that Kuwaiti youths are the real engine of the country’s future, she urged them to select their representatives carefully, away from tribal and sectarian considerations.
Another aspirant Ahmad Al-Obaid, who is contesting from the First Constituency, said some candidates are allocating unreasonable budgets for their electoral campaigns. “This deprives the country of services of some efficient and qualified individuals whose income is limited and who may not be able to campaign as vigorously as those with deep pockets.”
According to Al-Obaid, strong will and good management are the key elements required to achieve the ambitions of the citizens and to change the old policies. Also, there should be a clear-cut plan of action and an efficient team to carry it out, he said.
There should also be plans to control corruption, for development as well as to strengthen the principle of freedom, he said.
Furthermore, former MP Mohammad Al-Faji announced that he will not run in the coming elections and thanked all those voted for him in the 2003 elections, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
He said it was an honor for him to represent the people of the then 16th Constituency, which is the current Fourth Constituency, and added that his diwaniya will always be open to everyone.
Citizens
Meanwhile, fighting the scourge of corruption is the duty of all citizens, hence the culture of good ethics must be inculcated in people to be able to deal with this menace, reports Al-Moustaqbal daily quoting former MP Rola Dashti as saying.
In a statement to mark World Anti-Corruption Day, the former MP noted that corruption has come to stay and it’s growing in a dangerous and rapid manner. She stressed that corruption is manifest in administration and state institutions, where incapable hands are appointed in positions where competence and experience matters most, and services are rendered in favoritism.
She blamed the situation on lack of implementation of law by the concerned authorities, and warned that neglecting the state of affairs has become a time bomb ready to explode. She decried rot in social values and ethics that has reached a level where people’s dignity and honor is blatantly violated, while defamation, incitement and character assassination have suddenly become the order of day.
On recent storming of the National Assembly premises and violation of law and the Constitution by youths, the former MP said “it’s the outcome of deteriorating social ethics”, as people in recent times accuse each other falsely and intrude on the judiciary, forcing it to pass judgments according to their whims and caprices. She said reform of institutions must begin with reform of individuals, followed by family reform.
In another news, all decisions related to salary increments, pay scales and pension-except for the teachers’ pay scale, have been suspended pending the next parliamentary election in January or February 2012, reports Al-Moustaqbal daily.
The daily quoting reliable sources said the aforementioned issues will be prioritized by the coming government, as well as matters concerning the living standards of citizens.
Meanwhile, the teachers’ pay scale the government and the national assembly approved recently will be activated next January and paid according to the new scale, sources indicated.
Yet in another development, in his religious point of view on conducting by-elections to select parliamentary candidates, former dean of the Faculty of Sharia Dr Mohammed Al-Tabtabaei has stated on his Twitter page that participating in by-elections is unlawful, reports Al-Wasat daily.
Meanwhile, the Salafist Bloc is expected to hold a meeting in the diwaniya of former minister and MP Mohammed Al-Baqer on Saturday to discuss crucial issues.