Saudi Arabia to Diversify Income, Raise Efficiency
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SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 RABI ALAWWAL 13, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Minister visits Saudis commute The Real Hirscher coastguards at Sri Lankan Fouz: How jokes of Sabah Al-Ahmad maid’s stoning to have drone Xmas naval base3 death13 sentence gorgeous37 hair present15 Saudi Arabia to diversify Min 09º Max 14º income, raise efficiency High Tide 11:50 & 22:59 King Salman blames Assad for IS rise in Syria Low Tide 05:16 & 16:59 40 PAGES NO: 16737 150 FILS RIYADH: Saudi King Salman yesterday said he has ordered economic reforms to diversify sources of income and reduce high dependence on oil following a PM, speaker lead Fadhl funeral sharp drop in crude prices. “Our vision for economic reform is to increase the efficiency of public spending, By B Izzak utilize economic resources and boost returns from state investment,” he said in an address to the Shura Council. KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- “I have directed the Council of Economic and Mubarak Al-Sabah and National Assembly Speaker Development Affairs to devise the necessary plans, poli- Marzouq Al-Ghanem led the funeral of late MP Nabil Al- cies and programs to achieve that,” he told the consulta- Fadhl, who died on Tuesday. MPs, ministers and a large tive body, without elaborating. number of people took part in the funeral at Sulaibkhat Oil income accounts for more than 90 percent of cemetery, where Fadhl’s body was laid to rest. public revenues in Sheikh Jaber paid warm tributes to Fadhl, saying he Saudi Arabia. The was one of the best politicians to provide good advice world’s largest oil to the government. Ghanem said Fadhl was an honest exporter, Saudi Arabia and dedicated worker serving the interests of the coun- is facing an unprece- try. Many MPs, ministers and dignitaries also mourned dented budget the sudden death of Fadhl. crunch as the price of Fadhl, 66, died on his seat on Tuesday minutes after oil has dropped by calling on his colleagues to entirely focus on serious more than 60 percent parliamentary work during sessions. During his brief since mid-2014. The political career, Fadhl was a strong critic of Islamist king said Saudi Arabia groups and at one point called for declaring some of carried out a large King Salman them as terrorist groups. He repeatedly blasted opposi- number of mega infrastructure projects and boosted its tion groups, especially the Popular Action Movement fiscal reserves in the past several years when oil prices and the Muslim Brotherhood. were high. In another development, the appeals court yester- The size of the fiscal buffers has enabled the king- day suspended the implementation of a one-year jail dom to overcome the consequences from the sharp term against former Shiite MP and lawyer Khaled Al- decline in oil revenues, said the king, adding that devel- Shatti until the court reviews the case. The lower court opment projects have not been affected by the drop. this week handed Shatti the jail term after convicting KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- Saudi Arabia is projected to post a record budget deficit him of undermining a religious sect - Sunnis - in com- Ghanem (right) and other mourners carry the bier dur- of around $130 billion for this year, the International ments on Twitter. A lawyer by profession, Shatti was ing the burial of MP Nabil Al-Fadhl yesterday. (Inset) Monetary Fund says. The IMF has advised Riyadh to elected to the Dec 2012 Assembly, which was scrapped HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- implement reforms, including expanding non-oil rev- a few months later by the constitutional court. He failed Sabah and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al- enues, warning that failure to do so would deplete its in a bid for re-election. Khaled Al-Sabah are seen at the funeral. — Photos by foreign reserves. Continued on Page 13 Fouad Al-Shaikh (See Page 2) Continued on Page 13 Scores arrested in Jleeb raid By Hanan Al-Saadoun concerned ministries. The interior min- istry’s PR and security information depart- British Muslim KUWAIT: A major security campaign was ment said security authorities sealed off launched on the instructions of Deputy the area at 3:00 am with 1,700 policemen family barred Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh and 150 police patrol cars to raid places Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and in the that sold liquor and drugs, international presence of Interior Ministry Undersecretary call centers and brothels, and arrest sus- from US flight Lt Gen Suleiman Al-Fahd to arrest suspects pected criminals and thieves. and wanted persons as well as law violators The campaign resulted in the arrest of LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron was urged to in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. 1,248 persons without IDs, 305 iqama vio- intervene yesterday after a British Muslim family was The area was divided into five security lators, 135 debtors, 63 wanted people, 123 prevented from flying to the United States for a visit to zones. Field assistant undersecretaries par- prostitutes, 299 absconders, 16 drug deal- Disneyland. The family of 11 was stopped from board- ticipated in the campaign along with the ers, 480 with expired residencies, 23 with ing their flight to Los Angeles at London’s Gatwick air- LONDON: This photo taken on Dec 22, 2015 shows The Dorchester hotel in cen- traffic department, emergency police, heli- criminal and misdemeanor cases, 472 for port on Tuesday last week by immigration officials. tral London, owned by the Sultan of Brunei, decked out with Christmas decora- copters, criminal detectives, state security, deportation and 163 labor law violators. Mohammad Tariq Mahmood, who was travelling with tions, in contrast to Brunei where Christmas celebrations are banned. — AFP Kuwait Municipality, medical emergencies Five liquor factories were busted and 38 his brother and nine of their children, said the officials and the fire department, in addition to stores without licenses were shut down. gave no reason for blocking their travel plans. But he told the Guardian newspaper he believed it Brunei’s sultan was because US officials “think every Muslim poses a threat”. “Because I have a beard and sometimes wear Islamic dress, I get stopped and asked questions,” bans Christmas Mahmood added in comments to the BBC. “I feel that is part of the deal of flying.” The family has also been unable to secure a refund for the cost of the flights - BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Christmas is would be strictly enforced, for fear that around £9,000 ($13,400). just around the corner, but there are no tin- Muslims could be led astray. “Using religious Mahmood’s local lawmaker in London, Stella Creasy sel-laden trees or Santa hats in the oil-rich symbols like crosses, lighting candles, put- of the main opposition Labour party, has asked sultanate of Brunei, where celebrations ting up Christmas trees, singing religious Cameron to look into what happened. Cameron’s have been banned under a shift towards songs, sending Christmas greetings... are Downing Street office confirmed that the prime minis- hardline Islamic law. The all-powerful against Islamic faith,” imams said in sermons ter would respond to Creasy’s request. “Online and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world’s published in the local press. Punishment for offline discussions reverberate with the growing fear richest men, announced last year he would violating the ban is a five-year jail sentence, that UK Muslims are being ‘trumped’ - that widespread push ahead with the introduction of sharia and the government warned last year that condemnation of Donald Trump’s call for no Muslim to law, eventually including tough penalties Muslims would be committing an offence if be allowed into America contrasts with what is going such as death by stoning or severed limbs. they so much as wore “hats or clothes that on in practice,” Creasy wrote in yesterday’s Guardian. KUWAIT: Police officers round up people during a massive raid in Jleeb Al- Religious leaders in the oil-rich sultanate resemble Santa Claus”. Continued on Page 13 warned this month that a ban on Christmas Continued on Page 13 Shuyoukh yesterday. — KUNA LOCAL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah makes a statement to reporters. Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al- KUWAIT: The funeral prayer is performed during the funeral of MP Nabil Al-Fadhl yesterday. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh Sabah addresses the press. Amir cables family of deceased lawmaker KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh of late MP. Fadhl passed away during a bestow upon his soul peace and mercy, and minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad the death of his son, who was killed in a traf- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday National Assembly session on Tuesday. to grant his family and relatives patience and Al-Sabah sent similar cables to the bereaved fic accident on Tuesday. His Highness the addressed a cable of condolences to the fam- His Highness the Amir applauded efforts fortitude. His Highness the Deputy Amir and family. In other news, His Highness the Amir Crown Prince and His Highness the Prime ily of MP Nabil Nouri Al-Fadhl, expressing his exerted by the late Fadhl for services of the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- sent a cable of condolences to Mauritanian Minister also sent similar cables to President deepest sorrow and condolences over death homeland, praying to Allah Almighty to Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz over Mohamed.—KUNA The body of Nabil Al-Fadhl is being carried to his final resting place.