ALWATAN DAILY
KUWAIT
fridAY, may 25, 2012
Documents prove theft by government body: Al-Mudaf
Municipal committee recommends keeping ban on meat imports
Shabib Al-Ajmi Staff Writer
KUWAIT: Chairperson of the Municipal Council’s fact finding committee, assigned to investigate illegal trade of the country’s sand of Darakil as well as the case of Rahyya fire, Ashwaq Al-Mudaf, confirmed that the Municipality referred the file to the Public Prosecution. She added that a decision regarding the investigation of the Rahyya’s fire was deferred until after issuing the final report by the committee, which was formed by the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim to discover the causes of the fire. During the meeting of the committee Thursday, Al-Mudaf expressed regret over the fact that all documents presented showed that the thefts were made by a government body. She hailed the cooperation of the Municipality, which filed a complaint at the police station and referred the file to the Public Prosecution. But she expressed dissatisfaction with the Municipality Director and Head of Legal Affairs for not attending the meetings of the committee. Al-Mudaf explained that there is an agreement between the executive apparatus and the Municipal Council on referring the file of those who stole sand to the Public Prosecution, especially since there are documents received by the committee which need to be included in the case. She added “If the minister refused to do so, the committee would submit the documents to the Public Prosecutor. The Municipal Council does not have the authority to file a complaint at the Public Prosecutor but the members will file the complaint as citizens”. Rapporteur of the committee Manei Al-Ajmi said that the committee discussed on Thursday the issue of stealing sand form Abdullah Port, and was surprised when it discovered that the executive apparatus referred the file to the Public Prosecution. He valued the cooperation of the executive apparatus on this file, confirming that Municipal Council Members will follow the steps of the
FILE - undated picture obtained from online shows an aeria l view of Abdullah Port in Kuwait. Documents revealed that there has been illegal trade of the country’s sand in that particular area.
executive apparatus and will submit the files possessed by the Municipal Council to the executive apparatus to be attached to the file. Commenting on the statement made by an official at the Demolition Committee in which he denied the statements made by the Municipal Council Members, adding that he would file a complaint against them. Al-Ajmi said
that any citizen has the right to defend himself. He added that if the officials filed a case, they would submit the documents in their possession which prove that the Demolition Committee made violations. Al-Ajmi praised Al Watan for raising the issue, which urged the executive apparatus to file a complaint to the Public Prosecutor to prove the robbery.
PIFFS policies behind its hefty losses: MP Al-Anjari KUWAIT: “The rash and irresponsible policies adopted by the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) are behind the hefty losses that have been accumulating over a long period of time,” stated MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari before the National Assembly during the discussion of the interpellation he co-presented with MPs Khaled Al-Tahous and Musallam Al-Barrak against Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mustafa AlShamali in his official capacity, Thursday. Al-Anjari said, “Though these policies may have been introduced before Al-Shamali’s time, but the magnitude of the losses make it imperative he be questioned and made accountable, particularly since no effort had been made to hold top PIFFS officials accountable to-date.” In the world of investment, he remarked, “options” are not investment “tools” but rather “financial derivatives serving two functions; the first is speculation, which is a
practice of grave consequences, and the second is protection. The funds at PIFFS disposal are retirees’ funds and property of the People. As such, the funds should have been protected.” It was apparent that the options policies resulted in losses of 1.2 billion Kuwaiti dinars, with only two people with knowledge of the issue; PIFFS director general and the agent in the US.” “The Audit Bureau report had pointed out violations pertaining to the options mechanism and indicated great risk pertaining to buying bonds in the forward market, and also warned of the great risk involved in relying on one agent rather than a group of agents for all PIFFS options business,” the MP pointed out. Al-Anjari also recalled other failed PIFFS investments such as an investment of 90 percent of the capital of Global company, and as a result took the brunt of the
Visibility today expected to be less than 500 meters
parent company’s losses. “How could the company lose, to start with, when it is investing billions in insurance funds,” the MP exclaimed. He also recalled investment in the Port Fund along with Petrolink Holding and KGL company, knowing the companies were in debt, and criticized investing money in the Philippines where the investment environment is not safe. To make matters worse, he said, “US reports show that KGL was involved in helping Iran evade the embargo over its nuclear program,” referring to a report published by a local newspaper in November. “How is it that none of the ministers of finance could stop the PIFFS director general in his tracks?” and why is it that the finding of the Fatwa and Legislation Department that the “PIFFS internal audit unit is not under its director general’s jurisdiction” had been ignored, the minister exclaimed in censure. -KUNA
Kuwait discusses media ties with Bahrain, Palestine officials
3
KUWAIT: The committee of food safety of Kuwait Municipality has recommended extension of a ban on imports of meat from the United States and Australia, pending further examination of the issue with other official authorities. The head of the commission, Mohammad Al-Otaibi, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday that the committee had presented several recommendations, namely holding talks with visiting American officials to determine safety of the meat from the US and precautions that had been taken against the Mad Cow disease. The committee has examined a report, prepared by the representative of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR), about the spread of this disease in the US. On basis of the report and information provided by a visiting American delegation, the commission recommended extending the ban to give time for further consultations with the other relevant authorities. Moreover, members of the commission reviewed a decision that had been taken by the Ministry of Commerce, imposing temporary ban on imports of poultry from Sri Lanka as a result of outbreak of the bird flu, marine shells from Hawaii, the US, bird meat from Australia and some brands of olive oil from Spain. Furthermore, it advised tasking representative of the Ministry of Commerce to follow up on the question of issuing a ministerial decision to prohibit the importation of poultry and by-products from Ireland. The commission also asked the representative of the ministry to notify it about any development regarding lifting the ban on some products from Japan. -KUNA
Ministry of Social Affairs launches e-gate project
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ret. Lt. General Ahmad Abdulatif Al-Rujaib inaugurated on Wednesday the launch of the e-gate project at Yarmuk Social Development Center, with his ministry at the core base of the project. Minister Al-Rujaib said during the opening ceremony that the current phase is aimed at transforming Kuwait into a crucial strategic financial and commercial center in the region, including being a main hub for investment led by the private sector to various economic activities solely to enhance competition and production quality. Al-Rujaib added that his ministry executed the project to ease routine government procedures and services in cooperation with the Civil Service Authority. “To improve and have such qualitative leap with regard to ministry services, a move toward an electronic network was necessary to obtain and approve information and data between various entities,” Al-Rujaib added. The minister also praised the role by the Civil Service Authority in terms of technical or administrative support to ensure the success of the project. -KUNA
Lebanon willing to reinforce ties with Kuwait: Suleiman
KUWAIT: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah met in his office on Thursday with a number of visitors with whom he discussed numerous issues of bilateral concern, a statement by the ministry said. Among the visitors was Bahrain’s ambassador to Kuwait Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Khalifa with whom the undersecretary reviewed means of boosting media ties between the embassy of Bahrain and the Kuwaiti ministry of Information, said the statement. Sheikh Salman also met with a media delegation from Azerbaijan and another one representing the Palestinian Public Authority for Radio and Television, with whom the Kuwaiti official discussed cooperation in media affairs. -KUNA
Kuwait has witnessed a massive dust storm on Thursday, May 24, 2012, which caused low visibility on the roads and is expected to continue till the end of today, Friday. (Al Watan)
KUWAIT: Head of the agricultural and hydrological forecasting in the Meteorological Department Osama Al-Mithin expected on Thursday that visibility may drop to less than 500 meters in most parts of the country until the end of the day on Friday. Al-Mithin told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that wind resumed its activity again from the northern and western areas of the country, accompanied by another wave of heavy dust due to the progress of high pressure northwest of the country. He predicted that the weather would im-
prove gradually as of Saturday morning, as south westerly winds subside gradually with light suspended dust. He also expected temperatures to rise significantly, reaching to more than 46 degrees Celsius. He said that the country had suffered since last Tuesday a noticeable speed in the North-westerly wind that exceeded 70 km per hour due to high pressure from the north-west causing stirring up sand and dust from the north and northwest of the country and low visibility to most areas to less than 1,000 meter. -KUNA
Ambassador Al-Muzzin lauds Kuwaiti-Russian ties MOSCOW: Kuwait Ambassador to Moscow Nasser AlMuzzin applauded deeply-rooted Kuwaiti-Russian relations. In a lecture delivered at the Higher Economic School, late on Wednesday, he pointed out that the Kuwaiti-Russian ties are undergoing steady development since 49 years ago. Al-Muzzin recalled the special commercial ties between Kuwaiti and Russian traders since late 1800s. He also spoke highly about the Russian supportive stance during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990.Al-Muzzin added that Kuwaiti and Russian educational institutions have recently developed bilateral cooperation. -KUNA
Ambassador holds talks with Laos PM KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait Ambassador to Laos People Democratic Republic Nabil Rashid Al-Dekhil held talks with Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong over bolstering bilateral ties. In statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Thursday, Al-Dekhil said the meeting is a part of a series of planned meeting with Laos officials to mull developing bilateral cooperation in all domains, particularly the economic sector. The Ambassador noted he has also conveyed to PM Thammavong greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. -KUNA
Kuwait Ambassador to Moscow Nasser Al-Muzzin. (KUNA)
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (left) speaking with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Lebanon Abdulaal Al-Qenai (right) during a meeting held Thursday, May 24, 2012. (KUNA)
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said on Thursday his country is keen to further bolstering and cementing relations with Kuwait. President Suleiman’s remark came after a meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Lebanon Abdulaal Al-Qenai and discussed bilateral relations, a state-
ment issued by the presidential palace. He asserted Lebanon government and people are eager for maintaining bilateral relations with the brotherly country. This meeting is part of the Lebanese leader’s contacts with some Arab countries on their recently announced travel ban. -KUNA
Kuwait to attend Islamic conference in Moscow Friday MOSCOW: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Adel Al-Falah will take part Friday in a conference dubbed “Islam against extremism” in the Russian capital Moscow. The conference is supervised by the International Moderation Center and will witness participation of a number of senior Russian Muslim clerics as well as foreign scholars, in addition to the International Union for Muslim Scholars. Prominent religious figures from a number of Arab and Islamic countries especially Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Jordan, Chad, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Iraq, Malaysia, Iran and others will also take part. The conference will discuss the dangers of religious extremism in all its forms and condemn the use of Islamic expressions such as Jihad, takfir and succession to justify political goals. -KUNA