By B Izzak

KUWAIT: Commerce and Industry Minister Mohammad Al-Aiban categorically refuted on Tuesday allegations of committing irregularities and squandering public funds, in addition to committing administrative violations. The accusations were made by MP Hamdan Al-Azmi in a grilling that eventually ended without a motion of no-confidence, which means that the minister will continue in his post as usual.

The minister insisted that the claims made by MP Azmi are totally baseless and that the lawmaker provided no evidence for any of the allegations. Azmi had accused the minister of failing to manage a company that he headed before he became a minister, and that in a few years, the company posted losses after it had posted profits.

But Aiban quashed the accusation, saying that before he headed the company in 2012, it was posting a loss and that within a few years, the firm posted profits, contrary to the accusation. The minister was also accused of utilizing his post to escape summons by the public prosecution in a lawsuit against him, but the minister insisted that he was never summoned by the prosecution, nor was he accused.

MP Azmi had charged the minister of risking the safety of the country’s main commercial port of Shuwaikh by piling huge containers full of highly inflammable diesel. Aiban also denied this accusation, saying these containers are full of diesel intended for smuggling, adding that before he became a minister, only 120 such containers were seized, while during just six months of his time in office, as many as 470 containers were seized. Azmi had claimed the containers could explode any time.

Aiban also said the reason for the grilling was entirely personal, as Azmi had come to the minister’s office and was asked to wait to be able to speak to the minister. The lawmaker didn’t wait and forcibly entered the office.

Azmi had also charged the minister of failing to contain price increases, especially of food and construction items, as he did not perform his constitutional duties and allowed some merchants to exploit poor consumers. The minister again categorically rejected the charge, saying he has taken many measures to prevent any artificial increases in consumer prices.

Meanwhile, MPs unanimously approved in two rounds of voting a draft law stipulating to increase the minimum pension of retired Kuwaitis to KD 1,000 monthly. Finance Minister Fahad Al-Jarallah said the pensions will increase gradually in accordance with the number of children to up to KD 1,615 for retirees who take care of seven or more children. The minister said the legislation will benefit some 52,000 retired citizens.

The Assembly also agreed to a government proposal to discuss and approve improving the standard of living of public and private sector employees on Dec 19. The finance minister said the government will prepare the necessary legislation to increase the pay of public and private sector employees, which will be ready for debate and approval on Dec 19. The Assembly will also discuss interest-free loans for retired citizens in that session.