SHAABAN 17, 1439 AH THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

Max 35º 32 Pages Min 26º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 17522 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Qatari leader receives IMF warns Arab states West sparks new outrage Liverpool join Real Madrid 3 letter from HH the Amir 11 against debt complacency 30 in calling slavery ‘choice’ 16 in Champions League final

Amir lauds democratic exchange between parliament and Cabinet Voting on no-confidence motions next week • Oil minister denies resignation

By B Izzak and Agencies two ministers, while they fell short of filing a non-coop- was not the first time that two ministers and the prime conspiracy theories eration motion against the prime minister. National minister were grilled on the same day. About a decade KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said voting on ago, former prime minister HH Sheikh Nasser Al- Al-Sabah lauded yesterday the healthy democratic the two no-confidence motions against Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and three other minis- Our wasted potential exchange between National Assembly MPs and Cabinet Bakheet Al-Rasheedi and Social Affairs and Labor ters were grilled in the same session, which also lasted members. In his letter to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Minister Hind Al-Sabeeh will take place next Thursday. for almost 24 hours. Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Amir congrat- Lawmakers need 25 votes to automatically oust the MP Ali Al-Deqbasi said yesterday he was confident ulated the head of the Cabinet on his outstanding per- two ministers, but Ghanem expressed belief that the two that the oil minister will survive the no-confidence formance during his interpellation session. HH the Amir ministers will survive and remain as Cabinet members. He motion and continue in his post, adding that the grilling also commended lawmakers on displaying high democrat- also said that a proposal to form a committee to investi- against him was unconstitutional because he was held By Badrya Darwish ic values during their interpellations of the prime minister gate the allegations in the oil minister’s grilling will be responsible for the actions of his predecessors in the and two other ministers. Sheikh Sabah hoped for more put for voting in the same session. Ghanem said the ministry, which is not in line with the constitution. He said progress in Kuwait’s democratic experience, wishing wel- grilling of HH Sheikh Jaber by MP Hamdan Al-Azemi that the grilling had in fact targeted senior oil executives fare and stability for the country and its people. ended without any non-cooperation motion, and there- and the minister paid the price of infighting in the oil HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- fore the grilling is over. Parliamentary sources said the sector. Deqbasi said that the vote against Rasheedi will [email protected] Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable yesterday to Sheikh Jaber, non-cooperation motion against the premier was signed not succeed as he was grilled for violations committed also praising his performance in response to the interpel- by eight lawmakers, short of just two members to by previous ministers. lation. Sheikh Nawaf said the process was done in a fair become legal. Parliamentary sources said that from the outcome of ajid Javid was appointed home secretary a few democratic atmosphere, displaying a responsible The oil minister meanwhile denied reports that he has the grillings, it appears that the government will manage days ago in the UK. Javid is the child of immi- exchange between the Cabinet and parliament. decided to quit his post after the no-confidence motion to defeat the two no-confidence votes against the two Sgrants from Pakistan who landed in Britain in After a marathon grilling session that lasted almost 24 against him. He told reporters he is staying in his post ministers, and that the dissolution of the Assembly now 1960 - of course a Muslim family. His father worked hours, MPs submitted no-confidence motions against the and said he is proud of the Amiri confidence in him. It appears a remote possibility. as a bus driver in Bristol and the family lived in a modest two-bedroom flat for most of his youth. But despite his humble beginnings, British Prime Minister sovereign credit for 2018 at “AA” with a stable outlook, Teresa May chose him to serve as home secretary Kuwait continues the agency said yesterday. (See Page 5) (sort of like the interior minister in the Arab world) - In his opening speech at the conference organized not a small position. Of course, Javid is a highly-qual- by the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Islamic Financial ified young man. He served as an investment banker role as Islamic Services Board, Hajraf stressed that Kuwait is keen to and held several high positions in the government, find the necessary infrastructure for the functioning of including as a parliamentary and cabinet minister. finance pioneer; the banking system, both conventional and Islamic. I was laughing when I heard about his appoint- “This is represented by a stable financial and monetary ment, and I thought how people in the Arab states system and a regulatory environment that adopts poli- would be able rise to such a high position if their par- Fitch affirms AA cies that support growth and stability. ents had been immigrants who arrived even as far By Faten Omar Regarding the importance of this role, the govern- back as 100 years previously. Everyone will be ment is sparing no effort to enhance the independence mocking, saying: What’s this wafed holding this posi- of the Central Bank of Kuwait in the management of tion? Are there no original nationals worthy of this KUWAIT: Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf yesterday said the CBK-IFSB conference was an opportunity to monetary policy, the performance of its oversight role position? Does it have to be given to a newcomer and all its functions stipulated in the law of its estab- Mohammed Al-Hashel Nayef Al-Hajraf whose father was a bus driver? meet Islamic finance industry experts, who contribute to the development of the industry by proposing solu- lishment,” Hajraf said. He added that the conference I didn’t see one article in the British press or one coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establish- WhatsApp or one social media message on tions and recommendations. He pointed out that Kuwait exceptional rate to reach $2.2 trillion. is a leader in launching and developing the Islamic ment of the Central Bank of Kuwait. He affirmed that Kuwait has achieved within a Instagram or Snapchat or Facebook, etc, etc mocking Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait Mohammed or criticizing Ms May for her choice. This is pure finance industry regionally and globally, adding that decade a financial system among the strongest, most these efforts are not limited to moral or legislative sup- Al-Hashel said many countries have followed the model secure and stable in the region and a dual banking sys- democracy, guys. And this is how countries advance set by Kuwait’s successful experience in Islamic on all levels. First you have to advance in your men- port, but rather due to the keenness of Kuwait to build tem that stimulates the flourishing of Islamic and con- government institutions on which the modern economy finance, adding that Islamic finance has grown at the ventional banks alike. tality, in your head, in your culture, in your education international level over the past four decades at an and in your behavior. Then you have to respect and is based. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings affirmed Kuwait’s Continued on Page 11 honor merit over wasta or connections. This is why the Arab world continues to stagnate and we are still importing from A to Z from outside. move, Cayetano said, “is acceptable and There isn’t a country among us which has developed Filipino envoy is a duty under international law but it significant new technologies, let alone old ones like caused commotion to them”. “That’s why cars. Even the needles we sew our clothes with are I said I apologize if our actions seemed made outside, be it China, Turkey or the US. Forget returns home to violate your sovereignty but let me airplanes, cars, industries, medical equipment, medi- MANILA: The Filipino ambassador assure you it’s in the spirit of protecting cines, manufacturing, etc. I’m not talking about things expelled by Kuwait, which protested the our nationals,” Cayetano told reporters we’ve licensed and replicate like simple mathematics. rescue of abused Filipina housemaids in at the airport. I’m talking about what we innovate or rather don’t the country as an affront to its sover- Kuwait’s foreign ministry accused the innovate. eignty, returned home yesterday, with Philippine Embassy last week of a “fla- You see guys what’s the reason. Sit nicely in your the Philippines insisting it did not com- grant and grave breach of rules and reg- home and think wisely and think without racism or mit any infraction. Philippine Foreign ulations that govern diplomatic action without grudges and ask yourself: Am I lying? Am I Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano wel- where staff helped Filipina house helpers exaggerating? Or being unrealistic? Or just want to comed Ambassador Renato Villa at run away,” and ordered Villa to leave criticize? It is sad, I tell you, the situation we in the Manila’s international airport. Both within a week. Kuwait also recalled its Arab world are in. I hope the younger generations expressed hope that the diplomatic row ambassador from Manila. Four Filipinos will comprehend life better and figure out a way to could be resolved soon. associated with the embassy were also develop us beyond this stagnant situation. Cayetano said 35 of 38 rescue efforts arrested in Kuwait for allegedly convinc- We have all the potential to do far better than the of Filipina housemaids by Philippine offi- ing maids to flee their employers’ homes. West, and most of all we have our guiding light from cials last month were coordinated with Despite the dispute, Cayetano said a our Prophet (PBUH) and Islam. But we need a new Kuwaiti authorities but three were con- resolution of what he called a “miscom- MANILA: Philippines’ former ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa speaks mindset and a new way of doing things. ducted by Filipino officials themselves munication” between the two to members of the media shortly after arriving at the airport yesterday, while Have a good day. And congratulations to Mr Javid! because rapid action was needed. The Continued on Page 11 Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano looks on. — AFP

ply said “theek hai” (“OK”) after Judge Sameer Adkar followed Dey and shot him five times from behind near Chhota Rajan read out his verdict. The court also convicted eight his home in the northern suburb of . henchmen, including four shooters. They and Rajan, Officers said the gang was paid 500,000 rupees who is in his late 50s, were later sentenced to life ($11,000) for the killing. sentenced to imprisonment. Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat had called They fled to towns around the country in the after- for a life term, saying Dey represented “the fourth pil- math, where most of them were arrested. Mid-Day lar of democracy”. “The punishment must act as a said at the time of his death that Dey was “a victim of life in prison deterrent,” he told the courtroom. his fearless journalism”. His murder provoked outrage MUMBAI: An Indian court yesterday sentenced Reporters in the world’s largest democracy often among Indian journalists, hundreds of whom took to notorious gangster Chhota Rajan and eight others to face harassment and intimidation by police, politicians, the streets of Mumbai to demand greater protection life in prison for murdering a journalist in a drive-by bureaucrats and criminal gangs. More than forty jour- from the state government and a swift inquiry. Rajan, shooting in Mumbai seven years ago. Jyotirmoy Dey, nalists have been killed in India since 1992, according whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, was a crime reporter who specialized on gangland activ- to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. once one of India’s most wanted men and is accused ities for the Mid-Day tabloid, was shot dead in The judge acquitted two others of involvement, of dozens of gruesome crimes. broad daylight on June 11, 2011. Prosecutors said including a female journalist who had been accused of Yesterday’s ruling was his first major conviction Rajan had ordered the hit because he was unhappy conspiring with and abetting Dey’s killers. since he was deported from Indonesia in Oct 2015 about negative articles that Dey had written about Jigna Vora, who worked for newspa- after two decades on the run. Rajan was allegedly the him. A special court in India’s financial capital per, was accused of passing on Dey’s home address right-hand man of Mumbai crime boss Dawood Mumbai found Rajan guilty of ordering the contract and motorcycle registration number to gangsters Ibrahim before an acrimonious split following the 1993 DENPASAR: In this file photo taken on Nov 5, 2015 Indonesian police killing of the 56-year-old. working for Rajan. She maintained her innocence bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people. The underworld don, who was appearing by video throughout the trial and broke down in tears following Yesterday’s verdict came on the eve of World Press escort Indian national Chhota Rajan from Bali police headquarters to link from a New Delhi jail where he is being held, sim- her acquittal on all charges. Police said Rajan’s gang Freedom Day. — AFP Ngurah Rai Airport during his deportation from Bali island. — AFP