Kuwait Times, Wednesday, Aug 26, 2020 | Muharram 7, 1442
Cabinet works on implementing Deputy Amir’s instructions
Kuwait:
The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its weekly meeting at Al-Saif Palace on Monday
under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled
Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The Cabinet members reviewed the contents of the address
delivered by His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anas
Al-Saleh said following the meeting. The fatherly speech reflects His Highness
the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince’s care for the security, stability and status
of the country. The speech of His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince
focuses on:
1- The need of protecting the citizens’ freedom and privacy against any
encroachment or attempts to sow the seeds of sedition among the public.
2- Commending the public awareness and keenness on protection of the country’s
stability and security.
3- Cautioning against the risks of chaotic deviations by some social networking
websites, including the promulgation of sensational allegations and groundless
accusations.
4- Asking the ministers to speed up the efforts to rout out all kinds of
deviations of social media and protect the unity of the society.
5- The urgency of legislative-executive cooperation to counter the risks facing
the country and address the crucial issues, such as education, youth,
administrative and economic reforms, demographic restructuring and services.
6- Scaling up the combat against corruption and tasking the executive and
legislative authorities to enforce the necessary measures to end all
manifestations of corruption.
7- Upholding the rule of law and making sure that there is no immunity for any
corrupt person whatever their positions might be.
8- Materializing the national unity and solidarity with the leadership in order
to overcome any challenges.
9- Making the public feel reassured about the prosperous future of the country.
Necessary measures
The Cabinet, taking pride in the wise instructions of His Highness the Deputy
Amir and Crown Prince, stated full commitment to their implementation with a
view to protecting the national unity and development in all fields under the
wise leadership of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince,
Saleh revealed.
His Highness the Prime Minister urged the ministers to respond promptly to the
instructions of His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince and adopt the
necessary measures to realize their objectives. Consequently, the Cabinet
adopted the following decisions:
1- Cooperation with the National Assembly: The Cabinet will form a government
team, led by His Highness the Prime Minister, to communicate with Speaker of the
National Assembly and the competent parliamentary committees with a view to
translating into action the instructions of His Highness the Deputy Amir and
Crown Prince and speeding up the passing of necessary legislations.
2- Anti-graft effort: The Cabinet will set up a higher committee, led by His
Highness the Prime Minister, to promote the national strategy for transparency
and anti-corruption combat. The committee will work to activate the interagency
cooperation to study the reports of irregularities at state bodies in
collaboration with the State Audit Bureau (SAB). It will oversee the
implementation of measures to retrieve the possible usurped state funds whether
inside or outside the country.
3- The security leaks: In the light of the great importance attached by His
Highness the Deputy Amir to the leaked videos from the security institution, the
Cabinet members heard a presentation by Saleh on the issue and the
administrative and legal measures adopted so far in this regard. The deputy
prime minister and minister of interior noted that a fact-finding committee was
promptly formed and finalized a report within less than a couple of days.
Based on the report, the minister decided on Thursday, August 20, 2020, to
suspend the director general of the state security service and seven officers.
All persons involved in the case and the related information were referred to
the Public Prosecution. Other measures were adopted to ensure non reoccurrence
of such loopholes or any future infringement on the public freedoms and privacy
or violation of the rules of work.
4- Economic reform: A government team, led by Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad
Al-Sabah, has been mandated to scrutinize the impacts of the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic on the state financial revenues and of the oil prices. The
team will also follow up the efficacy of measures to address the imbalances in
the national economy, and the draft measures to cut down expenses. They will
also work out an integrated plan of action for financial and economic reforms
with emphasis on anti-graft combat and enhancement of economic growth.
5- Demographic restructuring: A team, led by Ahmad Khaled Al-Kolaib, is mandated
to identify the aspects of demographic imbalances and the legal loopholes that
lead to excessive numbers of expatriates. The team will review the laws
regulating the employment of foreign workers and the punitive measures set forth
in the residency law for traders in residences.
6- Social networking websites: The Cabinet has formed a team led by Chairman of
the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) Eng
Salem Muthib Al-Othainah, to scrutinize the misuse of social media and the
deviations of hoax accounts that aim to tarnish the reputation of some people or
destabilize the country through groundless allegations. The team will also draw
on the experiences of other countries in addressing the technical loopholes
without infringing on the public freedoms in the framework of the rules of the
constitution.
COVID-19 developments
Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Humoud Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet on the
latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the figures of
infections, recoveries and fatalities as well as the medical and logistical
services. The Cabinet members also reviewed issues relating to the National
Assembly, including the interpellations and no-confidence motions raised by some
MPs and the outcomes of last week’s parliamentary session.
They expressed confidence in the ability of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Interior Anas Al-Saleh to win the vote of confidence slated for Wednesday,
August 26, based on the satisfactory answers he made during the grilling raised
by MP Shuaib Al-Mowazri and 10 other MPs.
They also reviewed regional and international issues and welcomed the
recently-reached ceasefire agreement in Libya They mourned the passing away of
Dr Dawood Al-Saleh, the former governor of Hawalli and the Capital city, and
paid homage to his numerous national contributions.