(MENAFN- Arab Times) The Parliament, in its regular session on Tuesday, debated on the grilling request submitted by MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji against Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdul-Mohsen Al-Mudej for allegedly committing financial and administrative violations.
The lawmakers presented several recommendations to correct the flaws and mistakes found in the ministry instead of submitting a no-confidence motion against Al-Mudej.
A total of 15 recommendations were presented during the session which include reviewing the State Audit Bureau (SAB) reports and cases mentioned in the interpellation, correcting the status of the free trade zone and irregularities in subsidies, obligating every authority under the ministry to review and correct violations reported by SAB, and assessment of the current situation in Kuwait Stock Exchange.
During the debate, Al-Turaiji clarified he has no desire to grill the minister, so he forwarded many questions to the latter but he did not receive any convincing response. He wondered if the minister read reports of SAB on corruption in his ministry and failure to implement its annual plan.
He had earlier asked the minister whether he has conducted a feasibility study on the promotion of national products with an estimated cost of KD1.2 million. He said the minister informed him that there is a study on the behavior of consumers and he wondered how this is related to the promotion of national products.
He also accused the minister of having knowledge about a government company paying KD 7 million for provisions - a violation of the law and wastage of public fund. He said the minister failed to stop the unreasonable price hikes and to fight against traders who sell expired food items because some top officials in the ministry are behind the anomaly.
He then showed copies of ownership documents of several assistant undersecretaries and managers who own private companies while working in the Commerce Ministry. He added the minister issued decisions regarding the transfer and promotion of some employees without informing SAB and some employees at the minister's office received excellent work allowance although they don't deserve it.
The lawmaker also talked about issuance of a fake report on the mineral water industry. He said after an inspector found out that the water sample was unfit for human consumption, some officials in the ministry forced the inspector to change the report.
He alleged the minister is fully aware that the government has been buying iron rods from private companies owned by a current MP and a former MP with about KD 100 million difference in the cost compared to other companies.
He went on to say the minister violated certain laws when he employed siblings of MPs and ministers. He presented copies of documents related to the appointment of a consultant for the minister who happens to be the brother of a lawmaker. He claimed this person is receiving a salary of KD 1,500 even though he had been accused of negligence. He also showed documents on the appointment of two consultants - father and son - one is receiving a salary of KD 7,600 and the other KD 16, 000.
He showed documents on the appointment of relatives of ministers and MPs in the Municipality Council, and secretary general of the Kuwait Stock Market Company who belongs to the same political bloc with the minister (National Democratic Alliance).
He added many officials are benefiting from the food items subsidized by the government by selling these items outside the country. He stressed many irregularities have marred the ministry's dealings, particularly what he mentioned in the second point of his interpellation regarding administrative corruption and serious breach in the management of the ministry.
On the Kuwait Stock Exchange, the lawmaker asserted the Kuwait Stock Market Company was erroneously established in 2012 as it was unconstitutional and aimed at spoiling the stock market to pave the way for unscrupulous individuals to take control over the bourse. He then asked if the oil price drop really caused the KSE index decline. He disclosed the company's deposit was valued at KD 180 million but KD 40 million was withdrawn before the appointment Capital Markets Authority Board Chairman Dr Naif Al-Hajraf. He lamented, "We don't know where this money went?"
He wondered why the Capital Markets Authority referred a number of citizens to the Public Prosecution for alleged manipulation of the stock market, only to make amends with one of the accused and fined him KD 50,000 dinars although he was referred to the prosecution.
He showed another document proving that the bourse rented another building, paying KD 2 million annually for its buildings, even though the new building is empty. He alleged this is tantamount to stealing public funds and spreading corruption.
He accused the minister of failing to stop the deteriorating situation in the stock market, so he called on the minister to submit his resignation similar to what former Education Minister Ahmed Al-Mulaif did after the death of workers in the Al-Shadadiya University project.
He also talked about anomalies in the distribution of industrial plots and he presented documents in this regard, claiming the Public Authority for Industry granted an industrial plot to a citizen because of his relation to a lawmaker.
On the morality issue, the lawmaker pointed out some employees have become victims of molestation and sexual harassment but they cannot go to the police as the minister was unaware of what was going on then. However, the minister did not conduct investigations even after being informed about such incidents. He presented documentation of investigations on the case of a female KSE employee who was sexually harassed and another who was forced to withdraw the sexual harassment case she filed against an assistant undersecretary in the Commerce and Industry Ministry. In spite of these incidents, the minister still denies the molestation cases in his ministry, he added.
On the other hand, Al-Mudej described Al-Tureijis's interpellation as personal, indicating the lawmaker gave an impression that the minister is utterly corrupt as if he supports misusage of public funds.
The minister went on to disprove every accusation the MP hurled at him, which he supported with documents. He affirmed the ministry continues to implement the policies of former ministers and all its activities are in accordance with the law.
He pointed out some of the issues raised by the lawmaker date back to either 1990 or 2012. Nonetheless, the minister responded to all queries and accusations on these issues.
MPs supporting the interpellation noted that answers to some of the grilling points were vague; particularly the sexual harassment cases but the minister continued disproving the points in a confident manner.
Al-Mudej retorted he is not hiding any information as he works based on the truth and the development goals of his country. He cited as a case in point the political fallout in 1999 when he accused the then government of being behind the crisis. He also disagrees with the suggestion to refer certain grilling points to the Legal and Legislative Committee as he considers the action a violation of the fundamental pillars of democracy.
At the end of the debate, the lawmakers did not submit a no-confidence motion against the minister, who expressed dismay over the fact that he faced an interpellation despite his vast experience in the political arena, as well as his commitment to work towards development and reform.
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