KUWAIT: Islamistopposition MP Mohammad Hayef yesterday filed to grill Finance Minister NayefAl-Hajraf over refusal to abolish interest on pensioner loans amid more threatsby lawmakers to grill ministers. Acting National Assembly Speaker OudhahAl-Ruwaie, who received a copy of the grilling, said it has been listed fordebate on the agenda of the opening session of the new assembly term on October29. The debate of the grilling however can be delayed for two more weeks if theminister asks for that.
The grilling isbased on allegations that the minister has violated the constitution byrefusing to abolish interest rates on cash payments given by the pension agencyin exchange for part of the pensioners' salary. Islamist MPs have been pressingthe government to either abolish the interest rates or provide such facility inaccordance with Islamic Sharia law that forbids usury.
A number ofIslamist MPs have expressed their support for the grilling and demanded thatthe minister should change the rules to be in line with Islamic law. MP AdelAl-Damkhi called on the minister to make the necessary changes to pave the wayfor all pensioners to benefit from the facility. MPs Mohammad Al-Mutair and HamdanAl-Azmi said they will support the grilling.
Butpro-government MP Ahmad Al-Fadhl criticized the grilling saying it violates thelaw. Hayef had grilled the finance minister over similar issues towards the endof the past assembly term but did not file a no-confidence motion.
In the meantime,MP Riyadh Al-Adasani said that he will file two grilling against the ministersof interior and finance at the start of the new assembly term and could be evenbefore that. The grillings, based on alleged violations, are expected to besome of the largest in the assembly history, Adasani said.
MP Bader Al-Mullasaid yesterday that he has agreed with MP Thamer Al-Suwait to file a jointgrilling against Minister of Public Works Jenan Bushehri about roads andhousing. Mulla complained that the minister of oil and the prime ministerappear to have decided to ignore the issue of violations at Vietnam refinery,owned jointly by Kuwait, and renewed threats to file to grill them both.
By B Izzak