MP faults timing of fuel price hike – Legislator voices concern on demographics

This news has been read 5110 times!

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 2: MP Khalil Abdullah says the government decision to raise the price of fuel was wrong in terms of timing and arrangement. He noted the government decision is unplanned and not based on economic studies which means it should have looked for alternatives to ensure the citizens do not get affected especially the citizens with limited income.

He added alternatives can be put in place to help citizens in the face of anticipated economic reforms to provide subsidy allowance based on the Civil ID card with the aim of achieving most from this allowance, which if presented in the form of financial support ‘cash’ would have contributed to a significant rise in consumer prices.

He explained the implementation of this approach requires first to be studied by concerned authorities, especially the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), in addition to other concerned authorities to calculate the size of this support which, he said, should not be less than KD 500 which can be used to pay for certain goods and services provided to the citizens.

Abdullah stressed the lifting of subsidy on fuel should coincide with other decisions which favor the citizens and residents through the creation of a mechanism to ensure that citizen is not affected negatively and also give expatriates alternatives to use public transportation better than what it is now.

He expressed support for doing away with subsidies on commodities and to direct the subsidy to the deserved people so as not to harm the ordinary citizens through direct support which could be through the Civil ID. He added, “If the government wants to provide support and save billions, it must direct part of this support to citizens, must stop wasting public money and enhance non-oil revenues.”

Abdullah rejected the reports which have been submitted by the international monetary agencies such as the Moody’s, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund concerning the financial standing and economic affairs of the State of Kuwait. He stressed on the need for the government to carry out economic studies for every reform step it desires to take. He also stressed on the importance of modifying of demographics which should not escape the government reform plans, especially since the majority of the population within the country are expatriates, most of them ‘marginal’ laborers.

Asked about the role of the Commerce Ministry in following up on prices of commodities to ensure that they are not affected by the hike in prices of gasoline, Abdullah said, “the Commerce Ministry has no ability to control or monitor the prices and because of this the MPs have a role to play to evaluate and follow up and monitor government performance.”

For his part, MP Ali Al-Khamis disclosed the lawmakers will do whatever it takes to stop what he called ‘the government mess’ and defend the citizens in the face of hike in fuel prices which is affecting the citizens. Al-Khamis pointed out the government has exploited the parliamentary recess to pass the decision to raise gasoline prices, “despite our efforts to hold a special meeting but we can’t charge the government unless after the holidays.” He added, although the government has announced its intention to raise gasoline prices, as a lawmaker, he says it his duty to reject it.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 5110 times!