Adel Al-Saraawi
Encyclopedia
Adel Al-Saraawi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly
, representing the third district
. Born in 1962, Al-Saraawi studied accounting before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is considered an Independent deputy, but affiliates with the Islamist members.
In the lead-up to the vote, Saleh Ashour
, Ali Al-Daqbaashi
, Musallam AlـBarrak and Hussein Muzyed spoke against the minister while Al-Saraawi, Khalaf Al-Enezi
, Ali Al-Rashid
, and Mohammed Al-Sager
spoke in her defense.
Subeih had to defend herself against allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three male students had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and issued an apology.
Islamist lawmaker Saad al-Shreih also accused Subeih of not showing enough respect for Islam when she did not punish a 14-year-old girl who had allegedly drawn a cross on her religion text book and scribbled notes on it that she hated Islam. The minister told the house there was no evidence the girl had actually done that and so she was just referred to counseling. Shreih, however, still managed to gather the requisite signatures of ten lawmakers to force the no-confidence vote.
, Musallam Al-Barrak
accused Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah of using his influence when he was chief executive officer of Kuwait's Burgan Bank to open accounts at the request of his cousin, in the names of paper companies so that they could be used for siphoning the stolen money. Minister Al-Sabah, who is a member of the royal family, resigned before a vote of no-confidence could be held against him. Transportation Minister Sharedah al-Mawashergi resigned in solidarity with the Oil Minister.
, Ali Al-Rashid
, and Marzouq Al-Ghanem have proposed a draft law which suggests that the government fund Kuwaiti students' higher education at private colleges. According to the bill, the government would bear half of the expenses for students enrolled in private universities in Kuwait, excluding Kuwait University
.
(KIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund
, mostly in the United States and Europe. Its assets were estimated at close to $300 billion before the outbreak of the global crisis. Saraawi said that it is no secret that there is a direct impact from the global financial meltdown on Kuwaiti investments. He added that MPs also want to know the extent of this impact on the country's financial surpluses in the past few years. A number of top officials, including the finance minister and the governor of the Central Bank, have explicitly said that Kuwaiti foreign holdings have been impacted by the crisis but stressed that the effect has so far been "small."
National Assembly of Kuwait
The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma , is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the Assembly is Jassem Al-Kharafi. The Emir unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly in 1986 and restored it after the Gulf War in 1992...
, representing the third district
Kuwait's Third District
Kuwait's third district consists of 15 residential areas with a mixture of Islamist, liberal, tribal and Shiite voter base. It includes the Salafist base of Keifan, the Islamic Constitutional Movement stronghold of Rawdah, the relatively liberal areas of Udailiya and Khaldiya, the tribal area of...
. Born in 1962, Al-Saraawi studied accounting before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is considered an Independent deputy, but affiliates with the Islamist members.
Defended Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih
On January 22, 2008, the parliament voted 27-19, with two abstentions, against the impeachment of Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih.In the lead-up to the vote, Saleh Ashour
Saleh Ashour
Saleh Ashour is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the first district. Born in 1952, Ashour studied economics and served in the Kuwaiti Air Force before being elected to the National Assembly in 1999...
, Ali Al-Daqbaashi
Ali Al-Daqbaashi
Ali Al-Daqbaashi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1965, Al-Daqbaashi studied management before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait, Al-Daqbaashi affiliates with the Islamist...
, Musallam AlـBarrak and Hussein Muzyed spoke against the minister while Al-Saraawi, Khalaf Al-Enezi
Khalaf Al-Enezi
Khalaf Al-Enezi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1952, Al-Enezi worked at the National Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1981. Al-Enezi is an Independent deputy and is on good terms with the royal family...
, Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1967, Al-Rashid worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003...
, and Mohammed Al-Sager
Mohammed Al-Sager
Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager is an award-winning journalist, former member of the National Assembly of Kuwait, and former chairman of the Arab Parliament.-Background:...
spoke in her defense.
Subeih had to defend herself against allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three male students had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and issued an apology.
Islamist lawmaker Saad al-Shreih also accused Subeih of not showing enough respect for Islam when she did not punish a 14-year-old girl who had allegedly drawn a cross on her religion text book and scribbled notes on it that she hated Islam. The minister told the house there was no evidence the girl had actually done that and so she was just referred to counseling. Shreih, however, still managed to gather the requisite signatures of ten lawmakers to force the no-confidence vote.
Resignation of Oil Minister
On June 25, 2007, Al-Saraawi, Abdullah Al-RoumiAbdullah Al-Roumi
Abdullah Al-Roumi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly from the first district. Born in 1949, Al-Roumi worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 1985. Al-Roumi is considered an independent, liberal-leaning member...
, Musallam Al-Barrak
Musallam Al-Barrak
Musallam AlـBarrak is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1956, Al-Barrak studied Arab literature and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait,...
accused Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah of using his influence when he was chief executive officer of Kuwait's Burgan Bank to open accounts at the request of his cousin, in the names of paper companies so that they could be used for siphoning the stolen money. Minister Al-Sabah, who is a member of the royal family, resigned before a vote of no-confidence could be held against him. Transportation Minister Sharedah al-Mawashergi resigned in solidarity with the Oil Minister.
Supports Government Funds for College Tuition
On September 28, 2008, Al-Saraawi, along with MPs Abdullah Al-RoumiAbdullah Al-Roumi
Abdullah Al-Roumi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly from the first district. Born in 1949, Al-Roumi worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 1985. Al-Roumi is considered an independent, liberal-leaning member...
, Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1967, Al-Rashid worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003...
, and Marzouq Al-Ghanem have proposed a draft law which suggests that the government fund Kuwaiti students' higher education at private colleges. According to the bill, the government would bear half of the expenses for students enrolled in private universities in Kuwait, excluding Kuwait University
Kuwait University
Kuwait University was established in October 1966, five years after Kuwait's independence from British Colonization. KU started with only two faculties, namely the Faculty of Science, Arts and Education; and a Women's College. The university had 418 students enrolled and 31 faculty members. By ,...
.
Debate over Future Generations Fund
In November 2008, Al-Saraawi submitted a request for an expanded debate on the impact of the global financial crisis on Kuwaiti investments abroad, specifically the Future Generations Fund and the State Reserves Fund. The two funds are managed by Kuwait Investment AuthorityKuwait Investment Authority
The Kuwait Investment Authority is Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund , managing body, specializing in local and foreign investment...
(KIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund
Sovereign wealth fund
A sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund composed of financial assets such as stocks, bonds, property, precious metals or other financial instruments. Sovereign wealth funds invest globally. Some of them have grabbed attention making bad investments in several Wall Street financial...
, mostly in the United States and Europe. Its assets were estimated at close to $300 billion before the outbreak of the global crisis. Saraawi said that it is no secret that there is a direct impact from the global financial meltdown on Kuwaiti investments. He added that MPs also want to know the extent of this impact on the country's financial surpluses in the past few years. A number of top officials, including the finance minister and the governor of the Central Bank, have explicitly said that Kuwaiti foreign holdings have been impacted by the crisis but stressed that the effect has so far been "small."