Lawmakers want Syrian ambassador's expulsion

The dilemma faced by some applicants for Kuwait University, as well as reactions to Kuwait's official statement to the ongoing horrific events in Syria, have dominated MPs' statements over the weekend. While the chances of holding an extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss the issue of the high school graduates left without university places, called for by some parliamentarians, remain slender, MPs have kept up their pressure on the government over its reaction or lack of reaction to events in Syria, despite its acknowledgement that what is taking place is the "killing of civilians. MPs Al-Abdulhadi, Al-Harbash and Mohammad Hayef demanded that the Kuwaiti government expel the Syrian ambassador from the country in protest of the violent crackdown against Syrian civilians by the regime there. Meanwhile, on the university issue, a number of lawmakers have prepared a petition calling for an extraordinary parliamentary session in order to find solutions for over 3,000 high school graduates who weren't granted places at KU despite meeting all the necessary criteria due to the lack of available places at the university, which is already facing serious overcapacity problems, according to the administration. The lawmakers are aware, however, that the Cabinet is unenthusiastic about holding such a session and could use blocking tactics to prevent it from taking place. The issue is expected to be discussed during the Cabinet's weekly meeting today (Sunday), as well as during the meeting of the parliamentary educational committee the following day, which is to be attended by Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi. The fact that there are students who were rejected by Kuwait University despite meeting all the conditions is an unbelievable calamity", said MP Nadji Al-Abdulhadi, who urged the Cabinet to approve the petition "which is endorsed by the majority of MPs. According to one parliamentary insider, whilst 33 MPs have already signed the petition, a number are likely to change their minds after minister Al-Mualifi's meeting with the educational committee tomorrow (Monday). It's shameful to think of 3,000 students with no places at the Kuwait University despite all capabilities that the government could use," said MP Khalid Al-Tahous, blaming the government for failing to come up with preemptive measures to solve the problem before it escalated. "The Cabins is held accountable for failing to utilize the state's resources in serving human development projects", he added. In other news, a parliamentary investigation committee is set to open an investigation today into suspected irregularities in a contract signed between the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and oil multinational Shell. Committee chairman Dr. Ali Al-Omair indicated that today's meeting will not see any KPC officials being summoned for questioning, but will focus on analyzing the information collected to date and planning future moves. Committee rapporteur Dr. Maasouma Al-Mubarak also indicated that the committee will be basing much of its investigation on the facts about the contract detailed in the State Audit Bureau report on it, adding that the members also plan to look into other violations allegedly committed in the oil sector.