ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 LOCAL 5 MoI reaffirms its keenness on public fund protection Kuwait to raise capacity of power stations and water distillation plants KUWAIT CITY, Feb 14, (KUNA): The Ministry of Interior (MoI) reaffirmed Saturday keenness on protecting public fund, implementing a tightbelt policy and strictly following legal and financial measures related to budget control. The MoI is keen on eliminating all forms of corruption, as well as fully cooperate with the State Audit Bureau (SAB) in order to address any shortcomings related to public funds, the Security Media Department said in a statement. Honorary Chairwoman of Kuwait Club for the Disabled Al-Sheikha Sheikha Al-Abdullah affirmed that the activities organized for those with special needs are considered as highly humanitarian, reports Al-Seyassah daily. During the campaign titled ‘To fulfill our promise to them’ held recently at Mishref Cooperative Society, she commended the pioneering role played by the society in supporting those with special needs. Dummy employees to be eliminated Some external forces trying to ‘instigate’ Al-Ibrahim grilling KUWAIT CITY, Feb 14: Some external elements are trying to influence the Parliament towards grilling Minister of Electricity and Water AbdulAziz Al-Ibrahim as soon as possible in relation to the recent blackout that hit most areas in the country, reports Al Seyassah daily quoting sources. Sources affirmed the Parliament held a meeting last Thursday during which the Ministry of Electricity was commissioned to investigate reasons behind the blackout and then submit its detailed report in a month’s time. Sources indicated that those calling for grilling the minister want it to be done without any delay or not to wait for the commission to complete its investigation concerning the power cut. Meanwhile, sources pointed out the interpellation of Al-Ibrahim will not be the only one as the concerned MPs have agreed to present collective interpellations against other ministers, concerning financial and administration violations mentioned in the State Audit Bureau’s report. Revelations in that report are catastrophic and cannot be overlooked, said the MPs. Sources pointed out the ‘’political officials’’ met Al-Ibrahim after Thursday’s session and they listened to the explanation regarding the power cut and the efforts exerted to address the problem. At the end of the meeting, the officials praised the minister’s efforts and encouraged him to continue to ensure that all problems have been resolved in relation to the causes of the blackout. In the same context, parliamentary circles revealed there have been communications between two major political sides, through which they have agreed to oblige the government to present responses to the observations noted in the bureau’s report in the March 10 parliamentary session. Secretary General of the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) Fawzi Al-Mijdali vowed that 2015 is the year for eradicating the phenomenon of dummy employees, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In a press statement, Al-Mijdali revealed there will be surprise inspection campaigns in all companies to ensure their roster of employees are accurate, especially in terms of national manpower. He pointed out this is to check if all the listed employees are physically present in their designated positions. He affirmed the program is keen on fighting the phenomenon of dummy employees, in addition to suggesting some measures to end it— especially under the weak control measures. He indicated among the new proposed measures, the program will not accept the application of any citizen until he gets work permit from the Public Authority for Manpower, in a bid to end fraud on national manpower aid or double financial aid. Al-Mijdali mentioned that last year, the program managed to discover a huge number of citizens registered in companies and small businesses such as saloons, whereas these establishments were dummy and had no physical existence. He added after the files of these companies were referred to concerned legal bodies, it was discovered the registered citizens were receiving financial aid, hence “setting up new terms and conditions to provide social financial allowance to the citizens, in manner that the applicants must provide a letter (to whom it may concern), indicating the account number his or her salary is transferred to. The program will stop depositing financial help immediately when the account stops receiving salary transfer. News in Brief Ministry urges moderation: Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has urged youths to be moderate in their religious approach and refrain from adopting the extremist ideologies of terrorist groups such as DAESH, as moderation is the core of Islam, reports Al-Qabas daily. Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Fareed Emadi condemned the heinous crimes and terrorist activities committed by DAESH particularly after some of its members killed the Jordanian pilot recently by burning him alive. He stressed the ministry’s keenness to spread moderate religious ideology in the society and caution people against terrorism and extremism through activities that highlight moderation in religion. Emadi lamented that the terrorist crimes being committed in the name of Islam is distorting the image of the religion, affirming the need to unite for the sake of putting an end to terrorism, which has nothing to do with humanity, mercy, tolerance and other such principles advocated by all religions. ❑ ❑ ❑ Trial period for system end: Deputy Director General for Human Resources Development at Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) Waleed AlObaid has revealed that the trial period for the implementation of e-governmental correspondence system at the authority has ended, reports Al-Anba daily. He said Cabinet’s decision 412/2014 instructed all governmental bodies to use the new applications related to e-correspondence system in coordination with the Central System for Information Technology. Meanwhile, PAHW will carry out a draw for distributing 202 housing units of area 400 square meters each in Northwest Sulaibikhat area. It revealed in a press statement that the names of the Kuwaiti citizens who deserve to enter the draw will be announced soon. MoI was reacting to press reports about SAB’s remarks over failure to collect around KD 56 million (around $190 million) in debts for the government. MoI noted collection of around KD 59 million ($200 million) in the first 10 months of 2014, pointing out that value of fines varied because of different methods fines were imposed. It said the General Traffic Department was showing flexibility with car owners, either individuals or companies, to pay their fines. But if they fail to do so, MoI added, the department would suspend their cars’ files until they pay. The MoI said it was coordinating with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to link the fines through a network. Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim had said it was the first time the National Assembly discuss SAB report about financial irregularities in government bodies. He said the government voiced commitment to address these irregularities on March 10. Strategy Among items found in the five-year development plan (2015-2020) is the Ministry of Electricity and Water’s strategy to brazen out several challenges — most important of all, raising the capacity of power stations and water distillation plants to counter the ever-increasing consumption rate. The plan also necessitates the involvement of private sector in water and electricity production, reports AlQabas daily. Policies adopted by the electricity and water sector aim at implementing appropriate measures to transform subsidized services to financial aid for the families with limited income, while all other services will be provided based on supply and demand. The sector would establish public authority for electricity and water operating on commercial competitiveness to help increase private sector investments in power and water production valued at KD two billion. In terms of air transportation, Kuwait International Airport witnessed an enormous increase in the number of passengers with the departure and arrival of nearly 9.4 million passengers in 2013. The number exceeded capacity of the airport, which is estimated to contain 7 million passengers. The plan points to the main challenge facing air transport sector in the country, which is means of increasing the capacity of the airport by constructing the second terminal. In terms of sea transportation, the plan calls for the completion of Mubarak Al-Kabeer port and boosting the capacity of the existing ports, while the communications services sector’s plan indicates that fiber optics cables cover 50 percent of its planned development course. EduCareer exhibition postponed KUWAIT CITY, Feb 14: Kuwait International Fair announced that EduCareer 2015 exhibition which was earlier slated for March 2-5 has been postponed to Oct 7-9. The event will bear a new name “EDUTEK” (Education & Training Exhibition). It is worth mentioning the exhibition sets the platform for meeting hundreds of prospective students in the region who seek to further their studies locally, regionally and internationally. KUNA photo Zain officials seen during the launching of the 4th generation technology. Event seeks to help boost employees’ productivity and efficiency UIC organizes three-day workshop KUWAIT CITY, Feb 14: The Center for Investment Studies and Financial Services in the Union of Investment Companies (UIC), in conjunction with Franklin Covey Middle East, organized a workshop entitled, ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, at JW Marriott (Kuwait) under the sponsorship of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS). In a press statement, acting Director of the center Fadwa Darwish pointed out ‘the organization of this workshop is based on the fact that regardless of one’s competence; there is still a need for imbibing eternal principles as bases for self-development, teamwork and cooperation. Such development and continuous success are attained through mutual effectiveness, continuous improvement and enhancement of skills by an individual or a leader’. The objective of the workshop was to create opportunity for the nominated employees of member-companies to discover these eternal principles which, if implemented, will help in increasing productivity, improving communication skills, enhancing relations and efficiency in any given spectrum. The three-day workshop, which was held from Jan 27-29, was presented by Franklin Covey Middle East Consultant Sareef Saleem.