Kuwaiti MP Wasmi: Fighting Corruption Is a Top Priority

An aerial view shows Kuwait City. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows Kuwait City. (Reuters)
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Kuwaiti MP Wasmi: Fighting Corruption Is a Top Priority

An aerial view shows Kuwait City. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows Kuwait City. (Reuters)

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al Sabah launched the first steps of comprehensive national reconciliation and began a new era of dialogue based on tolerance, cooperation and construction, announced lawmaker Obaid al-Wasmi.

In a televised speech, Wasmi said the National Dialogue Committee has drawn up a roadmap, noting that corruption and recovering state funds are at the top of its priorities for the next stage.

In September, the Emir launched a national dialogue to resolve the growing differences between the government and the National Assembly that had led to a political stalemate.

He also tasked a committee of the heads of the country’s top three authorities to propose the terms and conditions for pardoning some Kuwaitis who have been convicted during past periods, ahead of issuing a pardon decree.

About 40 members of the parliament appealed to the Emir to pardon convicts in various cases. The government said the Emir wanted to resolve all outstanding issues, achieve political stability and cooperate with all parties.

The pardon decrees were issued on Monday after the cabinet approved them during a special session.

Wasmi said in his speech that the deputies were tasked with one of the most complex missions, noting that regional and international developments require putting Kuwait’s interest above all.

The regional security and economic challenges and the political transformations in the world necessitate directing efforts to achieving the interests of the state and the sustainability of its resources, continued the MP.

Wasmi stressed that “the three authorities are one body based on cooperation and distributing tasks, not competition.”

He explained that the committee has drawn up a roadmap with specific goals, asserting that it will preserve the constitution.

The committee will not waive any of the state’s right to oversight and legislation, he said, adding that issues of corruption and the recovery of looted funds will be a top priority.



Taiwan’s Representative to Saudi Arabia: 260,000 Pagers Exported in Two Years

Taiwan’s representative to Saudi Arabia Samee Chang. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Taiwan’s representative to Saudi Arabia Samee Chang. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Taiwan’s Representative to Saudi Arabia: 260,000 Pagers Exported in Two Years

Taiwan’s representative to Saudi Arabia Samee Chang. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Taiwan’s representative to Saudi Arabia Samee Chang. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Taiwan is investigating who is responsible for modifying the pagers that were turned into explosives in the hands of the Lebanese people, including members of Hezbollah.

Taiwan’s representative to Saudi Arabia Samee Chang told Asharq Al-Awsat that 260,000 pagers were exported from his country between 2022 and 2024, and 16 percent of them were sent to the United States and Europe.

He expressed his regret that the pagers were planted with explosives that were used in the attack in Lebanon last month, clarifying that the devices were not directly exported from Taiwan to Lebanon.

He explained that the components of the device are made of material that is not liable to explode.

Apollo Gold, the Taiwanese company that exported the pagers between 2022 and 2024, has never received any complaints that its devices have caused harm or exploded.

The attack in Lebanon has raised several questions and they are being probed by authorities in Taiwan, he went on to say.

One thing is for certain, the devices were not harmful in the shape they were exported from the country, stressed Chang.

Asked about whether the attack may harm Taiwan’s economy, he replied that his country’s industry sector has a strong reputation that will be difficult to undermine given the trust it has from clients.

The size of the sector and Taiwan’s investments cannot be measured by a small number of pagers, as they only make up a mere fraction in the country’s trade relations with countries all over the world, he stressed.

Separately, Chang revealed that Taiwan was considering cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the chip industry, saying he was optimistic over the broad potential for cooperation in the technology sector.

There are no limits to the cooperation between them, he added.

Taiwan constantly wants to maintain the relations and discuss opportunities for joint investments, he stated.

Taiwan was among the first countries to leap to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in all fields to help the Kingdom achieve its Vision 2030 that is spearheaded by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Chang said.