3 MPs to present ‘grilling’ request against Finance Minister over fuel price hike – Citizens experiencing difficulties in daily lives: Ashour
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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6: MPs Abdullah Al-Turaiji, Ali Al-Khamees and Ahmed Al-Mutei have announced their plan to submit a grilling request against Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh on the fuel price hike and result of the recent meeting between the executive and legislative authorities in this regard. In a press statement Thursday, the three lawmakers confirmed they have been closely following up the issue; particularly the repercussions of the government’s one-sided decision to increase fuel prices.
They were surprised by the decision of the government, considering the timing and implementation mechanism are different from what the MPs agreed with the government earlier. They accused the government of pushing for financial and economic reforms deemed harmful to citizens who have been complaining about its failure to regulate prices and hold accountable those behind the spread of corruption in various institutions.
They pointed out that despite the negative repercussions of the decision; they have been patient in attempting to dissuade the government from pushing through with the implementation of this decision or, at least, exempt citizens from it. They have repeatedly asked the government about the justifications for increasing fuel prices and its plan for the coming period, but nothing positive came from its side. This was followed by the call for an emergency session to discuss the issue but it did not get positive response from the government as well, the lawmakers asserted.
Meanwhile, MP Saleh Ashour said citizens are experiencing difficulties in their daily lives due to decisions taken by the government regarding electricity and gasoline, in addition to the expected privatization of important State institutions which will negatively affect the economic situation of the State and its citizens. He believes the government took such steps after the MPs approved the economic reform policy which covers the abovementioned issues.
He stressed the need for everyone to know that the government intends to take more steps under the guise of reforming the economic track, but the ordinary citizens will eventually pay the price. “We cannot allow this situation to continue especially since it puts pressure on citizens.
Therefore, the government in general and the finance minister in particular should bear this responsibility,” he added. Moreover, the Foreign Affairs Committee approved eight international agreements on Thursday. Committee Rapporteur MP Mohammed Tanna Al-Anazi told reporters after the meeting that these agreements include military cooperation with Tunisia, Switzerland convention on repatriation and NATO.
By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff
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