(MENAFN- Arab Times) MP Saleh Ashour has outrightly rejected the proposals of the government and the parliamentary Financial and Economic Affairs Committee to increase water and electricity charges based on consumption. In a press statement, the lawmaker asserted this will negatively affect all citizens, wondering why the government wants to put additional financial burden on the incumbent Parliament as well as the citizens and expatriates.
He said the government seems to regard this Parliament as meek and simple; hence, its insistence to ratify a bill which touches the pockets of citizens. He asserted that since the intention is to implement the new electricity and water charges in 2018, the issue should be referred to the next Parliament.
Unveiling his plan to submit a parliamentary request to exempt the residential areas from the proposed increase, Ashour stressed it is totally unacceptable to start the implementation of the proposal with middle-income earners.
He alleged the power consumption figures, which have been published so far, are incorrect as he showed his own electricity bill dated March 20, 2016 stating his monthly consumption reached 35,000 kilowatts. He pointed out there is no truth in what had been published earlier about the consumption of 6,000 kilowatts. He pointed out the proposal is to increase electricity and water charges by 100 percent, warning this will render the government powerless in terms of controlling the prices of commodities and services.
He suggested postponing the implementation of this proposal until a tender on smart meters is introduced and until the bills are studied thoroughly. Meanwhile, the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee lifted the immunity of MP Abdul Hameed Dashti in relation to Case No. 139/2016 which.
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