"(I ask dear compatriots to) Be positive and take part in the electoral process to choose the best, most effective, honest and responsible to represent you in the coming National Assembly and who will review the (the recently issued) decree of necessity to approve, reject or change it," the Amir said at the meeting, attended by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The Amir told the Kuwaiti academics that the decree that amended the former electoral law to allow voters to cast one ballot instead of four in the past was "inevitable" in light of the outcome of the previous three elections.
"I have issued the decree to amend electoral law based on my national duty and constitutional right, stated clearly by the Constitutional Court rulings," the Amir said.
"It was necessary to address the defects and negativities of the electoral law which the past three elections have shown." the Amir, however, pointed out that there are different constitutional means to challenge the decree.
"The constitution has enshrined the right to challenge necessity decrees before the reputable, independent and fair Constitutional Court," Sheikh Sabah said, stressing that he will abide by the Constitutional Court’s verdict whatever it entailed.
The Amir even hailed the move by some people to challenge the decree before the Constitutional Court, "I laud this civilized behavior and announce my complete abidance by the Court’s ruling if it is contrary to my assessment," he said.
He added that the coming National Assembly can also turn down the decree.
"The necessity decree is not a normal law but is subject to review from the National Assembly as well as challenges before the Constitutional Court… and I say it clearly that will accept the National Assembly and the Court’s view. So Where is the problem?" the Amir reminded Kuwaiti people that there are great challenges facing their dear homeland.
"We are facing great challenges and surrounded by major dangers, so we have to focus on addressing it," He underlined.
"We have the great challenges of fighting corruption and reform that state bodies, educational system, public services; health, electricity, water, transport, roads, housing, and job creation." The Amir underscored that these major issues and dangers can not be addressed through protests and gatherings and the insistence on violating law.
"But through cooperation, unity, collective and hard work, development, constructive dialogue and good governance," he said.
The Amir thanked the Kuwaiti academics for expressing warm patriotic stances during the recent turmoil that has affected the country.
The Amir added that he deeply appreciates their patriotic sentiments and responsible stances that reflects Kuwait’s true visage, vowing that he will not hesitate in safeguarding the nation’s security and the nationals’ stability and wellbeing.
"I urge all to listen to the calls of reason and prioritize the higher interest of Kuwait," the Amir concluded.
After a candid and frank meeting with the Amir Wednesday, a group of renowned Kuwaiti academics and dignitaries announced total support to the Amir’s ruling approach.
"We have came in delegations from the Kuwait University to express support to the Amiri approach and to call for making the dialogue and constitution the base for ironing out differences," Shamlan Al-Essa, Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, said following the meeting with the Amir.
"HH the Amir’s speech has given us the right indication and highlighted the Amir’s abidance by law and constitution and this is what we have always seen from the Ruling Family," he added.
Dr Afaf Al-Roumi expressed great comfort after listening to HH the Amir’s speech.
"After meeting HH the Amir, I had great relief and felt that there is a great leader steering our country to the good, security, development and cooperation," she said.
Al-Roumi prayed to Almighty God to protect Kuwait and HH the Amir and to unite all Kuwaitis.
"There are no disputes among Kuwaitis, but rather rational dialogue and debates," she added.
Meanwhile, Dr Habiba Al-Manea applauded the meeting and discussion with HH the Amir.
"It was a parental meeting with the main goal of narrowing points of view to protect the homeland security, sovereignty and democratic approach," she said.
Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sibeiee voiced allegiance and support to HH the Amir and opposition to the recently held protests.
"The attendees have expressed clear opposition to the protests and urged Kuwaiti people to heavily participate in the upcoming elections," he stated.
Agencies add:
Kuwaitis should use the ballot box to express their demands in a parliamentary election on Dec 1 and not take to the streets "screaming and wailing" in protest, the Amir said on Wednesday.
"This tension and stress and anxiety, which hangs over our country and our society, hurts you as it hurts me," Sheikh Sabah said in comments published by state news agency KUNA.
"It is a great tragedy to have calls to take to the street," the emir said. "Why the chaos and riots? Why the screaming and wailing and disrupting the business of the state and harming the interests of the people?" the emir said.
"We have a duty to protect our country from the dangers surrounding us, the earthquakes that are shaking the Arab world."
Sheikh Sabah said national unity was needed to tackle internal challenges and to protect against external threats.
Meanwhile, the Administrative Court Wednesday set Nov 26, 2012 to look into the appeal filed by eight candidates who have been barred from contesting the Dec 1, 2012 National Assembly elections on grounds they do not meet the conditions.
The court will also look on Thursday and Sunday into the appeals of other candidates who were disqualified by the National Election Commission for breaching the code of good conduct which is one of the basic requirement for nomination. A total of 37 candidates have been disqualified. Until now 31 candidates have filed appeals against the decision.
The candidates describe the good conduct condition used by the commission as prejudicial particularly in the absence of a court verdict confirming disrepute or bad conduct of a candidate.
The government, through its lawyer, supported the decision of the commission to disqualify the 37 candidates citing lack of good conduct.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal has acquitted the Third Constituency candidate Nabil Al-Fadhel of the charge of undermining the rights and authorities of HH the Amir. The court also cancelled the KD 10,000 fine which was impose on him by the court.
The case against Al-Fadhel was filed by the Information Ministry accusing him of writing an article deemed offensive to the authorities of HH the Amir, which the court considered an incorrect accusation.
Meanwhile, the candidates in their election campaigns told their voters that if they win a seat in the Parliament, they will fight for several pressing issues including education, top posts for women, healthcare for the aged, Sharia law and persons with special needs.
Second Constituency candidate, Khalil Al-Saleh said it has now become necessary to pass a law to guarantee senior positions for women in state institutions "and not discriminate between women and men in this regard," he stressed.
He pointed out Kuwait has many competent women in various fields "but in spite of that, we find their rights are suppressed when it comes to giving them leadership and management positions."
He said the next parliament needs to take this into account as part of its priorities particularly since there are many highly qualified women who can fill these positions.
He stressed the need for the government to recognize and believe in the role, the productivity and the competency of women, Al-Saleh explained women are an effective and important part in the society and called their role in the society significant "and the government should guarantee her all rights especially with regards to her job occupation."
Second Constituency candidate, Bader Al-Shamroukh said the issue of healthcare for the aged and the social and recreational requirements is one of his top priorities.
In a press statement, Al-Shamroukh stressed the importance of implementing Islamic Sharia law through what was executed by the Higher Consultative Committee for Completion of Implementation of Islamic Sharia laws.
He indicated the importance for the education issue which should have a fixed system that does not change with the change of its ministry and no ministry should have the right to change the policy of the education except after revising with the Higher Council for Education which should have a final say. He stressed he will work hard towards the passage of legislations and laws to maintain the educational course.
He stressed on the need to be serious with people with special needs "because they are part and parcel of the nation and nobody has the right to snatch their rights in the name of disability."
First Constituency candidate Mishari Al-Tarkeet stressed the need to establish a national institution to connect the output of education to the labor market and cooperation among all parties of educational process from Kuwait University, the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training and the private universities on one hand and the labor market represented by the government and the private sector on the other.
He said the country lacks consistency between the output of education and the labor market which has led to unemployment of a number of graduates of certain specializations but the expatriates are getting more jobs in the government and the public and the private sector at the expense of the citizens.
