With two grilling motions confirmed even before the National Assembly opens its doors for the new session, there is reportedly hectic activity going on behind the scenes to get one of the motions delayed, at least until after the inaugural session on 29 October.
A number of lawmakers are understood to be talking with MP Riyadh Al-Adasani to get him to delay the grilling of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah before the next parliamentary term commences, and to postpone his motion until after the inaugural session on October 29.
MP Adasani had declared his intention to grill both the interior and the finance ministers before realizing that MP Mohammed Hayef had already filed a grilling motion against Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf, which means that it would likely be discussed during the inaugural session. Lawmakers fear that in case Adasani files his motion as well, both motions against Hajraf would be merged and discussed together, which might make them lose their significance.
Meanwhile, MP Bader Al-Mulla urged Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of Oil Khaled Al-Fadhel to investigate the losses of the Vietnam refinery, and warned of what he described as ‘consequences worse than those of the Dow Chemical case.’ Mulla explained that, according to a technical report from the oil sector and State Audit Bureau reports, the gas enhancement plant at the Vietnam refinery cost KD444 million despite its unprofitability. He warned that the grilling of the oil minister looks all but inevitable. Revealing that he had no issues with taking on the job of oil minister, Mulla said, “I have previously said I am not keen on a ministerial position, but I am now ready to take on the job in order to reform the oil sector.”