KUWAIT CITY, Sept 4: MP Abdulrahman Al-Jeeran has asked the General Traffic Department (GTD) to find appropriate ways to ease traffic jams during rush hours. He urged the department to coordinate with ministries in order to adopt the idea of changing work timings in companies and institutions during the academic year due to the traffic congestion on streets near schools, universities and official premises.

He attributed the problem to the delayed completion of road development projects and growing population of students among others. He proposed solutions such as establishing alternative roads and improvement of the public transportation system.

He then enumerated roads which usually witness traffic jams as follows: King Fahad Highway (from the Third Ring Road to the Sixth Ring Road), Fahaheel Highway, Airport Road (from the Sixth Ring Road to the Fourth Ring Road), King Faisal Road, Fourth Ring Road (from Rawda to Salmiya — both directions and near Al- Raqa’i), Sixth Ring Road (near Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh) and Fifth Ring Road (from Farwaniya to Salmiya).On the other hand, MP Abdullah Al- Mayouf has announced his plan to grill Minister of Justice, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Yaqoub Al-Sanei on two issues — harming public money and abuse of ministerial position for electoral gains In a press conference at the Parliament building Sunday, Al-Mayouf accused the minister of taking advantage of his position to consolidate his electoral interests through appointments while his firstdegree relatives have obtained farms in a questionable manner — an act considered harmful to public funds.

Meanwhile, MP Ahmad Lari said there is an urgent need for overseas treatment so the State cannot stop sending sick citizens to other countries for treatment. He pointed out other countries have advanced scientific and medical services which are not available in Kuwait; hence, it is not advisable to stop the overseas treatment service considering the lack of medical facilities and hospitals here. He also urged the Ministry of Health to give priority to citizens suffering from serious illnesses like cancer in approving overseas treatment applications.

On a related issue, MP Mohammed Al- Jabri asked Minister of Health Dr Ali Al- Obaid to quickly address the problems of Kuwaiti patients stranded in other countries due to nonpayment of hospital bills. He warned that the minister will be held politically accountable if he fails to solve the issue, stressing the current situation of these patients is unacceptable. Secretary General of the National Assembly MP Allam Al-Kanderi denied on Sunday media allegations concerning MPs continuously receiving fuel coupons.The fuel coupons to the MPs will not be offered starting from September in accordance to instructions by the National Assembly’s leadership, MP Al-Kanderi said in a press release. The cabinet approved the increase of fuel prices last August due to recommendations by the Kuwaiti economic committee.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff and Agencies