| Otaibi calls to remove unnecessary traffic lights; Harsher punishment eyed for beggars |
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 7: MP Ahmad Al-Mulaifi has underscored the need to amend law number 61/1960 on begging and hiring others for the same purpose and impose harsher punishment on anyone proven to have violated the law, reports Al-Rai daily. Under the current law, Al-Mulaifi said beggars can go to jail for six months and pay a fine of not more than KD 500 while those hiring others for begging will be imprisoned for not more than five years and pay a fine of not more than KD 10,000 or any of these penalties, in addition to deportation.
Al-Mulaifi called for the implementation of harsher punishment to eradicate begging in the country, especially since a number of unscrupulous individuals are using their sickness or disabilities or that of others to earn money out of the kindness of other people. On the other hand, MP Saadoun Al-Otaibi has presented a proposal to remove unnecessary traffic lights in many areas and roundabouts to ease traffic jams and prevent road accidents. Al-Otaibi called for the removal of traffic lights in Dahiyat Abdullah Al-Salem, Adan, Qosour, Al-Qurain, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Al-Dhehar, Dahiyat Jabber Al-Ali, Dahiyat Fahad Al-Ahmed, Al-Riqqa, Hadiya, Fintas, Abu Halifa, Mangaf, Fahaheel, Ahmadi, Sabahiya and Dahiyat Ali Sabah Al-Salem. The MP has also suggested the establishment of civil services centers affiliated to the Ministry of Interior in Dahiyat Sabah Al-Salem, Dahiyat Jaber Al-Ali, Al-Riqqa and Fahaheel for the citizens to save time in processing transactions at the ministry.
Question
“We should not question the Islamic Constitutional Movement’s (ICM) plan to present a grilling request against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as it has stated clearly its objectives in this regard,” MP Abdulaziz Al-Shayeji has been quoted as saying by a local Arabic daily.
Commenting on the intention of other MPs to grill the premier, Al-Shayeji argued grilling is the constitutional right of parliamentarians, adding “we cannot just ignore the poor performance of the government.” He said the ICM specified a period of six weeks to prepare an interpellation request against the premier because the group needs enough time to lay down the grilling points, particularly those concerning the constitutional responsibilities of the prime minister. Asserting that grilling will promote democracy in the country, Al-Shayeji urged some parties to refrain from issuing statements on the possible dissolution of the Parliament as such moves will only aggravate the situation.
On a related development, sources disclosed 16 MPs have taken the initiative to sign a document to end the straining relations between the executive and legislative authorities amid threats to grill the premier, reports Al-Anba. Sources revealed the MPs will request a meeting with the premier to discuss their plan to rescue the nation from the ongoing political crisis and urge the government to address the grilling issues. Sources added the government can either resort to the Constitutional Court, forward the grilling to the Legislative Affairs Committee in the Parliament, or request postponement of the grilling. Sources said the government will rely on its support group in the Parliament as it can reject the grilling request only through the Constitution. - Arab Times
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| Posted on:
08/02/2009 |
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