Shiite MPs plan meeting with PM over council appointments

Shiite MPs, who are unhappy at the non-inclusion of Shiites in appointments to the Municipal Council, feel the government is not following the principle of equality and are planning to seek a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the issue, reported daily Al Seyessah newspaper.

A source told the newspaper that Shiite MPs Hassan Jowhar, Salah Khorsheed, Saleh Ashour and Yousuf Al Zalzalah are planning to hold a meeting to take a unified stand and ask Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah to appoint at least one Shiite from outside Parliament as minister.

Al Zalzalah said, "The recent appointments to the council have proved the principle of equality is not being followed not only with Shiites but also with other sects in the Kuwaiti society," he added.

Ashour said, "We have to convey our opinions to the leadership. The appointment method doesn't serve the interests of Kuwait and may backfire."

Meanwhile former MP Dr Abdul Mohsen Jamal was quoted by the paper as saying "this game is aimed at creating differences among citizens".

He claimed Shiite MPs will come out in the open against "this game".

The writer is a journalist based in Kuwait