Kuwait Times
KUWAIT: The payroll strategic alternative might not be discussed in parliament during this term, well-informed sources said, adding that the reason is because the project is still being prepared after the parliament’s human resources committee requested some amendments. The sources added that out of some election-focused considerations, some lawmakers had also been calling to postpone the project till the coming term.
Separately, the parliament’s public facilities committee insists on delaying a draft law on establishing the public authority of the Silk City and Boubyan island projects, said parliament’s sources, noting that it was too early to pass a law on the authority because the committee was still waiting for explanations it asked from the government about the project.
Committees’ meetings
In other news, parliament’s public funds protection committee intends to refer more cases to the public prosecution, as declared by the committee chairman MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji. Notably, the committee is due to discuss the procedures of selling Kuwait National Real Estate Company today in the presence of Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh and Kuwait Investment Authority officials because of suspected violations.
Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce and Industry Yousif Al-Ali will attend the parliament’s financial affairs committee’s meeting today to discuss a bill on auditing. Ali is expected to explain the new law that the ministry deems important to correct some current malpractices.
Dashti’s immunity
The parliament’s legislations committee is due to meet today to discuss the public prosecution’s request to lift MP Abdulhameed Dashti’s parliamentary immunity, adding a new article to law 17/1960, amending law 26/ 1961 about the Kuwait flag, establishing a public authority for food, changing clause 3 of article 33, law 7/2010 pertaining the CMA’s establishment and amending law 42/2014 about protecting the environment.
In other news, National Assembly supervisor MP Abdullah Al-Tamimi urged the government to take immediate measures against journalist Yousif Alawneh, whom he described as a mercenary and tumult promoter, over accusations of slandering the Prophet (PBUH) and his family. Tamimi threatened to grill the ministers of interior, information and awqaf unless they took actions against Alawneh, noting that the government’s silence on him “reflects that he is either mightier than the government or that he is being used by others and nothing can be done about him”.
Budget cut
In a bid to cut its expenses, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs approved a few measures to help rationalize its budget through reducing the amounts allocated for holding conferences, said informed sources, noting that the ministry holds at least six or seven conferences every year.
The post National Assembly could delay payroll alternative, Silk City appeared first on Kuwait Times.