(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY March 8: The total revenues of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for fiscal 2013/2014 decreased by four percent compared to the previous year says Budgets and Final Accounts Committee Chairman MP Adnan Abdulsamad. Abdulsamad made the statement after discussions on the final account of KOC Sunday.
He disclosed the company earned around KD 5384200000 33 percent more than the estimated income for fiscal 2013/2014; while the expenditures amounted to KD 1358000000 19 percent decrease bringing KOC''s total revenues to KD 1127300000. The MP also mentioned that the committee discussed the violation reports submitted by the State Audit Bureau (SAB) with the government whose answers did meet the committee''s expectations in terms of addressing the violations.
The committee sent a letter of query to KOC on Sept 24 2014; but KOC denied receiving any letter from the Petroleum Association which from the committee''s point of view indicates poor coordination between the association and affiliated companies.
On the other hand Legislative and Legal Committee Rapporteur MP Abdulhameed Dashti disclosed the committee has approved the Public Aid Bill but it rejected the proposal to increase manpower support allocation for citizens working in the private sector due to the large differences in salaries. He added the committee approved the allocation for public sector employees and referred the proposal to the concerned committee for appropriate action. He said the committee endorsed the bill on establishing a public authority for land transportation and rejected the proposed establishment of compensation fund for victims of traffic accidents whose perpetrators are unknown. Furthermore in response to a directive to safeguard Kuwait''s Arabic and Islamic reputation the committee discussed proposals on curbing sexual misdemeanors.
The committee concluded that the directive should come from the government''s side by amending the current sexual misdemeanor laws. Meanwhile Human Resources Committee Rapporteur MP Ahmed Al- Qudhaibi said the panel met Minister of Finance Anas Al-Saleh on Sunday to discuss ways to allocate salaries according to the strategic alternative. He revealed the strategic alternative will be ready for implementation in 2018 through which 30 to 40 percent of the public servants will receive 20 to 25 percent salary increment which will cost KD350 million; while 35 percent will not receive an increment. The MP added that in order for the strategic alternative to take its final composition several decrees and the Civil Service Law must be amended.
The government said it will submit its amendments by the end of March or early April. On the parliamentary session slated for Tuesday when the government is expected to address all financial violations reported by the SAB MP Saleh Ashour asserted this is an achievement for the current legislature as none of its predecessors had obligated the government to take such a step. He believes the session will be pointless if the government fails to present a solution for every violation noted by the SAB. He pointed out the nature of the session itself implies that attendance of ministers is a must and they should address every violation in a comprehensive manner. He stressed the minister who shows real concern and keenness in correcting the violations will undoubtedly receive the Assembly''s approval and he will be given enough time to accomplish the task. He also clarified that approving the Financial Supervisors Bill as an independent body away from the Ministry of Finance will contribute to efforts to prevent financial violations in the future. In another development the Assembly''s Secretariat General issued a press statement on the re-launch of its website. This came after hackers briefly penetrated the website and accessed its database. The case was referred to the Ministry of Interior''s Cyber Crimes Department to apprehend the culprit.
By: Ahmed Al-Naqeeb Arab Times Staf
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