KUWAIT CITY, March 20: The National Assembly Wednesday passed a bill during a second vote which stipulates the naturalization of not more than 4,000 bedoun (stateless residents) in 2013.
Forty-three MPs, including state ministers, voted for the bill with two abstentions. The law has then been referred to the executive authority for implementation.

The Parliament during its first deliberation approved the report of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on Anti-Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism bill with 38 in favor, five against and six abstentions, but in its second reading the Parliament turned down the bill with 27 against, 19 for and 3 abstentions so the observations made by the other MPs will be studied and discussed in the next session.

The law has been divided into five chapters. The first chapter relates to crimes and precautionary measures and commitment in informing about dubious operations. The second chapter is on jurisdiction of the authorities mandated to combat these crimes and about Kuwait financial investigations unit and about transfer of bank notes and other legal medium of exchange tools across borders.  The forth chapter relates to general rules on penalties and the fifth to final rules.
During discussion the MPs were split. Some supported it because it will put the country among the respected countries and stop distortion of its name while others say the law serves the interest of Westerners who use it as a pretext to deprive the Kuwaitis from doing charity work but rather prefer to portray Muslims as terrorists.

MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah said this law is not new because it has been on the agenda of the Finance Committee and was referred to the Legislative Committee and needs to be passed to preserve Kuwait’s reputation. He added, “Among the GCC states it is only Kuwait that has yet to pass this law.”

He added, some say the Kuwaitis give financial assistance and do charity work to the outside world “but some also take advantage of the situation and get involved in money laundering activities. So this law should be passed if we wish to be among the countries which command respect by stopping the illegal activities — activities such as money laundering and terrorism.”

Abdullah Al-Tameemi expressed fear that this law will be exploited and Kuwaitis will be a target.
“Kuwaitis need to be protected just like the writers and businessmen by a law and no one should be allowed to be sent outside the country for trial.”

The Chairman of the Legislative Committee, MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak said “We want to assure Al-Tameemi that this law is based on a bunch of international agreements that have been signed by Kuwait and all these considerations have been taken into account in this law.”

MP Khalil Saleh indicated many crimes which are being committed in the country emanates from money laundering activities, “so I hope we have databases to help get list of crimes that come under money laundering crimes.”

MP Safa Al-Hashim asserted that the law will prevent the country from what she call dubious charities because the country had suffered a lot from terrorism activities, adding “the US and the Briton are waiting for us to pass this law so that we are placed in the reputable countries.”

She urged the government not only pass the law but also implement it on the ground.

Meanwhile, MP Khalid Al-Shulaimi said he and a group of lawmakers will present a proposal to reopen the case of multi-million deposits of some former MPs because of its important for the legislative institution. He added, “Unfortunately it is the US that has linked the Kuwait charity money with financing terrorism and made the world to believe that terrorism came from Muslims.”

MP Khalid Al-Adwa added it is the US that breeds and sponsors terrorism “and we are just victims of this terrorism. Charity work in Kuwait is clean but the US wants to cut the sources of charity in the Arab countries on the pretext of fighting money laundering and terrorism.”

Meanwhile, the National Assembly discussed the issue of traffic congestion in the country with Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah. Traffic congestion is due to the absence of sufficient laws, lack of awareness in drivers, insufficient public transportation among other factors, said Colonel Sa’adoun Al-Khalidi.

Al-Khalidi, who represented the General Traffic Department at the Interior Ministry, spoke on the department’s strategies that reorganize and widen major traffic congested roads and the development of road networks in the country.

He added the pending bills need the approval of the Parliament so that a public authority for transportation is established, drivers and car licenses may be regulated and harsher penalties on traffic violations may be imposed.

The recommendations on the subject were issued by a number of lawmakers but were not voted on due to lack of quorum. The recommendations include the application of stricter penalties on those who commit serious traffic violations, which include prison terms for citizens and deportation for expatriates.
In other developments, the Assembly discussed the educational affairs of the country with Minister of Education Nayef Al-Hajraf.

However, a heated debate between lawmakers ensued with MP Kamel Al-Awadhi, who was determined to shed light on a case involving a principal who is accused of harassing female employees at his school.

Lawmakers objected to discussing the topic during the session and referred the matter to the education committee.

The argument prompted Deputy Parliament Speaker Mubarak Al-Khurainej to adjourn the session for 15 minutes.

Speaking on the Ministry of Education’s initiatives to improve the quality of education in Kuwait, Al-Hajraf presented the Assembly with the ministry’s plans to high quality education mechanisms.

He assured the ministry is keen on developing the national human resources as they are an integral part of the country’s development.