Kuwait Times, Wednesday, Dec 30, 2020 | Jamadi Al Awwal 15, 1442
Lawmakers warn govt against imposing taxes, raising fees
Kuwait:
Opposition MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari yesterday threatened to grill HH the
Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah if the government insists on
including the imposition of taxes in its program. The lawmaker said if the
government presents to the National Assembly the same program which has appeared
in newspapers and which calls for imposing taxes and cutting spending on health
and education, he will debate it by grilling the prime minister.
Kandari also insisted that without eradicating corruption from government
agencies, all government plans will remain without any value. MP Osama Al-Shaheen
said that if the published program is correct, lawmakers will reject any
reference to imposing taxes or increasing charges for public services.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs yesterday stressed that the Assembly must debate
events that took place at the inaugural session two weeks ago and reiterated
their rejection of the Assembly office’s decision to form an investigation
committee. The Assembly office on Monday formed a committee headed by Deputy
Speaker Ahmad Al-Shuhoumi to probe events that took place during the opening
session, including allowing dozens of supporters of Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem to
enter the gallery in violation of rules.
MP Osama Al-Munawer described the Assembly office move as a “farce”, saying some
members of the Assembly office are party to the problem and should not be
involved. MPs Shaheen and Farz Al-Mutairi, who were named as members of the
panel, said they will not take part in any investigation without authorization
from the Assembly and following a full debate.
MP Mohammad Al-Mutair said lawmakers have submitted a motion to the Assembly
calling to refer a number of people involved in the events, including the
speaker’s brother Khaled, to the public prosecution for investigation.
Opposition lawmakers are also alleging the use of fake ballot papers in the
election of the speaker and have demanded a probe.
MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji meanwhile proposed that the government should increase
the monthly housing allowance of Kuwaitis to KD 250 from the current KD 150. MP
Farz also called for increasing the pensions of retired Kuwaitis by KD 30 per
month. MP Hesham Al-Saleh yesterday submitted a draft law stipulating that
within three years, all public attorneys and members of the judiciary must be
Kuwaiti citizens. The draft law also calls to ban the appointment of any
non-Kuwaiti personnel in these two posts.
Saleh insisted that Kuwait has sufficient and experienced manpower that can fill
the gap, adding that the proposal is not racist, but allows citizens to control
the judiciary. In another proposal, Saleh called for amending the law governing
the administrative court to allow it to look into all issues including those
related to citizenship. The proposal also excludes deporting expatriates from
the authority of the court.