Kuwaiti PM urges serious action to protect public funds, fight graft

Within the framework of meetings conducted by His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait with government agencies, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah met on Wednesday with the heads of relevant regulatory bodies in the country.

In his meeting, His Highness pointed out the importance of holding periodic meetings for regulatory authorities to clarify the most prominent recurring observations and ways to address them, exchange opinions, proposals, and necessary requirements regarding them. He emphasized that this requires concerted efforts, cooperation among all agencies, and activating optimal coordination between regulatory agencies.

During the meeting, His Highness called upon government regulatory agencies to take serious steps in implementing the royal directives of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and preserve him. These directives aim to protect public funds, combat corruption, and uphold the rule of law and institutional governance.

During this meeting, His Highness stressed the importance of regulatory bodies in safeguarding public funds and combating financial and administrative corruption within the framework of laws governing their operations. He also emphasized the need to review legislation governing these bodies and their operational mechanisms to align with their operational needs and to facilitate the procedures of development projects.

His Highness also emphasized the importance of regulatory bodies submitting periodic reports that clarify the obstacles limiting their ability to fulfill their roles, along with recommendations and proposals to address these challenges.

He stressed the necessity of involving public opinion to understand the efforts made by regulatory bodies in preserving public funds, considering them as significant partners in the country. This involvement should be through various media channels and the issuance of special reports to citizens on this matter.

At the meeting, representatives of the regulatory bodies expressed their gratitude and appreciation for His Highness’s invitation, as well as for the observations and proposals he made regarding strengthening mechanisms to combat corruption and enhancing coordination between regulatory bodies. They emphasized to His Highness that the Royal Directives concerning the protection of public funds and the enforcement of the law should be prioritized.

The meeting was attended by Sharida Abdullah Al-Muasherji, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, who also serves as the Head of the Anti-Corruption Public Authority (Nazaha), along with the Head of the Financial Controllers Authority, the Head of the Fatwa and Legislation Department, the Head of the Civil Service Commission, the Deputy Head of the Government Performance Monitoring Agency, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance.