Al-Dallal queries partial re-opening of private clinics, hospitals

KUWAIT CITY, May 20: A number of MPs have commented on reports about the One Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

MP Al-Humaidi Al-Subai’e stressed that tarnishing the reputation of Kuwait and harming public money should not be tolerated. He affirmed support for parliamentary efforts to investigate the issue in order to uncover the truth. MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari said this is a chance for HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Khalid Al-Sabah to combat corruption by assigning ministers to investigate the issue and provide him with the necessary information as preliminary steps toward taking legal action.

MP Adel Al-Damkhi asked HH the Prime Minister to follow up the issue and refer the file to the Public Prosecution, which should investigate the money laundering allegations; otherwise, he will bear the political responsibility.

Nationalizing
On the other hand, MP Sa’adoun Hammad disclosed that he and some of his colleagues are preparing a bill on nationalizing administrative and technical jobs in public institutions, oil companies and cooperative societies.

He pointed out it is no longer useful to merely present recommendations in this regard. He also stressed the need to complete the construction of labor housing cities, obligate companies to relocate their workers to these cities, and provide them with services and facilities as per the standards. He said the government should specify the quota for each community, while taking into consideration the response of other countries in terms of the evacuation of their citizens.

Meanwhile, MP Muhammad Al-Dallal submitted queries to Minister of Health Dr Bassel Al-Sabah about the reasons behind the partial re-opening of private clinics and hospitals. He wants to know if this is due to the lack of inspectors at the ministry, why the ministry did not consider the conditions of patients undergoing treatment for chronic diseases and those recuperating after surgery, and if the partial re-opening of private medical institutions for nine hours weekly instead of 50 hours yielded positive results or not.

Moreover, MPs Muhammad Haif and Khalid Al-Otaibi expressed support for the recommendation of Finance Minister Barrak Al-Shitan to form a consultative board (Supreme Consultative Committee) at the Finance Ministry to present views on economic and financial issues according to the Islamic Sharia. Al-Otaibi believes the absence of this board led to political debates on many issues, affirming that the suggestion of Al-Shitan is in line with Article Two of the Constitution.

Haif added the board will identify irregularities in Kuwait’s investments abroad and major local projects, especially since citizens have expressed objection to most of these projects due to alleged violation of the Islamic Sharia.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff