A BID to question Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Mohammed Al Ka’abi over alleged irregularities in Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, has failed as not enough MPs voted in favour of the move.
Twelve members of Parliament were declared absent when the vote was taken as soon as the chamber’s weekly session got underway yesterday.
Several MPs shouted and asked Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam to take the vote later in the day as 27 out of 40 MPs were required to say “yes” for it to go ahead.
They even suggested that the rain issue be discussed first, but Mr Al Musallam refused.
“The rain has affected everyone’s lives and MPs should know better and should have left home early to be here in time for the session opening,” he said.
“I was earlier than anyone else; punctuality is an obligation everyone has to respect.”
MP Mohammed Al Olaiwi shouted that he postponed a scheduled life-altering medical operation yesterday to show up and vote “yes”.
Mr Al Musallam wished him good health adding that the situation wasn’t his fault and he should address it with the absent MPs.
Nineteen MPs voted in favour of questioning the minister while nine, including Mr Al Musallam, rejected the move.
It now means that Parliament can never question the same minister, who is politically responsible for Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, until 2026, when new MPs are elected and a government is formed.
“Gulf Air is in a miserable state because incompetent officials are appointed, and the same goes to the Social Insurance Organisation, with both being run by failed boards,” said Parliament second deputy speaker Ahmed Qarata.
However, Mr Al Musallam asked: “If Gulf Air’s board is at fault, why from the beginning are we grilling the minister, who is just politically responsible and has no say in day-to-day affairs?”
Mr Qarata replied: “It is a warm-up as we put pressure on the board.”
Mr Al Musallam pointed out that the issue was not to be treated as a joke.
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