MP queries refusal of Lebanon bank to return Kuwait deposits

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 20: MP Mehalhal Al- Mudaf forwarded queries to Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs Khalifa Hamada about the refusal of France Bank in Beirut, Lebanon to return the two fixed deposits of the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) amounting to $226.97 million and $120.1 million. He asked why these deposits were renewed despite the refusal of the bank to return them to PIFSS, if the ministry questioned the officials who are responsible for the renewal, and strategy of the ministry in handling public money deposited in Lebanese banks.

Al-Mudaf asked Minister of Oil and Higher Education Dr Muhammad Al-Fares to provide him with a list of students expelled from Kuwait University since its establishment up to the end of the academic year 2020 /2021. He said ministerial decision number 195 allows these students, who were expelled for repeatedly obtaining low marks, to re-enroll at the university at their own expense after paying the fees stipulated in the executive regulations of the Public Universities Law. He wants to know how many of these students have applied for re-admission on their own expense, if the concerned department at the university rejected any of such applications, and reasons behind the rejection. Al-Mudaf also asked the minister about the criteria for participating in tender number CB/ 1465 for loading and unloading the catalyst at Abdullah Port refinery. He pointed out some violations such as allowing the winner of the contract to render the same service at Ahmadi Port refinery. He inquired why the period for receiving offers for tender number CA/ 4192 was set from Oct 28 to Nov 14, 2021; and why the manufacturing year requirement for the equipment supplied for the two tenders are different — 2018 for tender number CB/1465 and 2021 for tender number CA/ 4192.

MP Hamad Al-Mattar strongly criticized the steps taken by the State Security General Department to investigate Kuwait Society for Information Security Chairperson Dr Safaa Al-Zaman regarding the statements she made on television that the information in some public institutions, including the State Audit Bureau (SAB), is linked to servers operated in other countries. He pointed out this attitude is unacceptable in a free country like Kuwait, asserting Al- Zaman should be rewarded rather than being threatened and summoned in a harsh manner. He said he is sure that Al-Zaman’s statements are true and he can prove this. He called on the concerned authorities to hurl accusations at him, similar that of Al-Zaman and he will then submit a proposal for his parliamentary immunity to be lifted so he could be investigated to prove that information in some public institutions are connected to servers controlled from outside the country. He urged members of Kuwait Lawyers Society to attend the investigations with Al-Zaman.

The lawmaker asked Minister of Health Dr Basel Al-Sabah about the number of blood clot cases recorded since the launching of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign compared to previous years, number of patients suffering from heart problems in 2021 compared to previous years, number of patients who underwent treatment in the country and those sent for overseas treatment because of Covid-19 complications, number blood poisoning cases in 2021 compared to previous years. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff

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