SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014 RAMADAN 2, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net ‘Draw a Smile’ NASA ‘flying Double campaign saucer’ tests Dutch late Emsak: 03:06 provides iftar, Mars-landing show floors Fajer: 03:16 Dohr: 11:51 needs support technology Mexico Asr: 15:25 Maghreb: 18:51 5 27 20 Eshaa: 20:24 BOT law amendments Max 48º Min 29º High Tide rejected after uproar 02:35 & 12:48 Low Tide Opposition, MPs warn move will hit public funds 07:38 & 20:35 40 PAGES NO: 16212 150 FILS By B Izzak Ramadan Kareem KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s financial and economic affairs committee yesterday rejected government proposals to amend Make this Ramadan the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law amid sharp criticism from the opposition and several MPs that the amendments under- your best ever! mine the country’s public funds. Member of the committee MP Humoud Al-Hamdan said members of the panel asked the gov- By Naseerah Hoorzook ernment for a list of projects which will benefit from the amend- ments but it failed to provide the list. Hamdan also insisted that id you know that you have the choice and the abili- the amendments will not be passed before seeking the opinion ty to make this Ramadan as awesome and positive of the Audit Bureau. Das you wish for it to be? Let’s explore how. Each The draft law, now known as the Public Private Partnership one of us finds something new, different and interesting (PPP), was debated several times in the Assembly including last in the way we experience Ramadan. We are able to distin- week when it decided to send it back to the financial committee guish our varied experiences by telling them to each oth- to review it. The main controversy revolves around existing proj- er, and in doing so we find we have similar challenges, ects which are limited under the current BOT law by 20 years. and/or differing outlooks. Under the amendment, the government wants the law to allow it You needn’t be Muslim to experience Ramadan. In fact to extend the duration of the contracts for as long as 20 more if it is your first Ramadan as a non-Muslim in an Islamic years without a public auction as was required. culture, this will be a time that you will be able to explore, The opposition Popular Action Movement (PAM) and several learn and seek to understand what goes on during this MPs have warned that the amendment and some other articles month. What drives people to fast in this heat and what in the law amount to a “sale of Kuwait”. MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji keeps their spirits energized throughout this period. said the main controversy revolves around articles 3, 7, 43 and 44, Being a Muslim, it may be your first time in Kuwait this which if approved, will squander huge sums of money in public Ramadan, or perhaps the first time you fast in a summer funds. Turaiji said that the number of projects concerned exceeds like this, and even if there is nothing new for you really, 100, in which its owners have made millions of dinars in profit you will still have a new and unique experience - an expe- with just a little benefit to the state. These projects have been giv- rience you choose to have. Ramadan is inevitable, it’s en state land for a symbolic fee. going to arrive and you will experience it anyway. Why not Turaiji said that for example, the golf course project was given allow yourself to make this your ultimate experience thus over one million square meters of state land and is paying just KD far, an experience that is positive, fulfilling and one that 58,000 annually, while the fifth phase of the waterfront project is brings joy to your heart and comfort to your soul. built on 3 million sq m for a meagre KD 104,000. According to the current BOT law passed in 2008, all BOT projects should be So how can we create this? turned to the government which should offer them in a public Our minds have filter systems, just like an air filter, that auction and thus to those who pay more. Under the new PPP, the filters out the unwanted dust and other muck in order to duration of such projects has been increased to as much as 50 protect the environment around us, and in turn protect years in a bid to encourage local and foreign investors to take up and look out for us. KUWAIT: A man holds up the sixth edition of KD 20 bills that went into circulation yesterday at an ATM in mega projects on state property, according to the explanatory Continued on Page 2 Shuwaikh. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat note of the law. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014 LOCAL Photo of the day KUWAIT: A Ramadan display is seen in the reception area of a hotel in Shuwaikh. — Photo by Yassar Al-Zayyat Common Mistakes During Ramadan Mistakes that happen in Ramadaan every Muslim should be aware of 1-Focusing on food; to the extent that people begin to worry brush during Ramadan. This is false, for the Prophet ,peace be be avoided. not true. about eating more than actually fasting. This also goes along upon him, used to use a miswak during Ramadan. Also you can 17-Some people believe you cannot eat until the Muadhin is 29- Some people believe if you throw up on accident it with spending tons of money on Iftaars even though a person use toothpaste; the reasoning by the scholars is that the Miswak done calling the Maghrib Adhaan. This is incorrect, as soon as he breaks your fast. This is not true, however if you do it intentionally does not need to eat that much food. has flavor, thus toothpaste is okay to use (if you are not eating it). starts a person can break their fast. it does. 2-Making Suhoor way before Fajr. Some people eat Suhoor a 11-Some people make the Fajr adhaan early. They do this so 18-Many people don’t take advantage of making du’aa before 30- Some people think you cannot put water in your nose few hours after Taraweeh or Isha Salah, this is wrong. It should be people will stop eating before Fajr and not invalidate their fast. they break their fast. Allah accepts a fasting persosn du’aa. Many and mouth during wudu in Ramadan. This too is incorrect. eaten closer to the time of Fajr. This is wrong and something we should not do. ualama recommend it right before Maghrib 31- One should not fast a day or two before Ramadan, 3-People don’t make Niyyah (intentions) to fast for Ramadan. 12-Some people make the Maghrib adhaan late. They do this 19-Many people make the mistake of spending the later part unless it is a day on which one is in the habit of fasting (i.e. volun- This is something in the heart and does not need to be verbal. so people will start eating late, just in case Maghrib has not come of Ramadan preparing for Eid, neglecting Ramadan. This is incor- tary fasting that coincides with that day). According to the Hanabili school it’s considered one worship in yet. This too is wrong and we should not do this. rect and these people lose the concept of what Ramadan is (islamway.com ) and only needs to be done once, at the beginning of Ramadan 13-Many many people believe you cannot have intercourse about. unless there is a break in the fasting. 20-Many parents do not let their children fast during According to Malik, Shafii, Abu Hanifah and some Hanablis Ramadan (young children). This is something counter productive Food of the intention must be renewed nightly. Many parents do not let their to a child. By allowing him to fast he will grow up to know he 4-If you find out late that Ramadan started, you should stop must do this act. Ramadan eating and fast for that day, making that day up after children fast during Ramadan. 21-Many people think Ramadan is just about not eating and Ramadan/Eid ends. This is something counter pro- forget about controlling their tempers and watching what they 5-Many people don’t think you pray Taraweeh on the first say. In actuality we are supposed to control our tempers and Quaker Oats Scrambled Delight night of Ramadan. They believe you pray it after the first day you ductive to a child. By allowing mouths even more during Ramadan. actually fast. They forget that the Islamic calender runs on the 22-People often waste their time during Ramadan. They go to Ingredients moon, maghrib is the start of the new day. him to fast he will grow up to sleep during the day and get nothing done. We should be taking 6-Many people believe if you eat or drink on accident this know he must do this act. advantage of this blessed month by doing extra Ibaadat. • 4 tbsps. Quaker Oats breaks your fast. This is false, if you do this on accident then you 23-Some people don’t go on trips or travel during Ramadan. • 1 egg + 2 egg whites continue fasting and do not need to make up the day. They think they have to break their fast when traveling. This is • 1/2 tsp. black pepper 7-Some people take the opinion that if they see someone eat- with your spouse during the whole month of Ramadan.