A total of 78 proposals and draft legislations will be reviewed by MPs during their five-month legislative recess.
Chairmen of Parliament’s five permanent committees announced yesterday, during a Press conference, that they would sit during the summer to examine legislations and conduct further studies into them along with relevant authorities.
The financial and economic affairs committee has four legislations, the services committee has 20, the legislative and legal affairs committee has 25, the public utilities and environment affairs committee has 19 and the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee has 10.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman MP Ahmed Al Salloom revealed that 137 topics were referred to his committee over the past term, requiring 43 meetings to clear out.
“We completed review and presented reports on 133 topics, leaving four complex issues requiring extensive study with the relevant authorities,” he said, adding that 97 per cent of the work has been completed despite 2025 being the national state budget year.
“Now, during the summer, we will be busy clearing up the Bahrain Chamber voting shares system, which some MPs believe is unfair and favours big businesses against micro, small and medium businesses,” he added.
Meanwhile, legislative and legal affairs committee chairman MP Mahmood Fardan said 213 topics were discussed over 27 meetings in the past term.
“Other committees had forwarded 155 topics to us, seeking our opinion, while 58 came directly under my panel,” he said.
“We completed 153 of the forwarded topics and 33 of direct concern, leaving us with 25 proposals and legislations for review.
“We will dedicate the summer to discuss the new lengthy bar law, which is set to revolutionise the profession, especially in the way it would deal with lawyers, related punishments and information access.”
Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee chairman MP Hassan Bukhammas said 38 topics were discussed over 16 meetings.
“Twenty-eight have been completed and 10 remain. The topics we discuss are sensitive and high-security and cannot be passed easily,” he added. “Now, in the summer, we will push with amendments to the 1976 Penal Code in a bid to modernise it.”
Services committee chairwoman MP Jalila Al Sayed revealed that 172 topics were discussed over 29 meetings.
“We are left with 20 topics mostly related to balancing existing labour legislation with International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulations,” she said.
“Other summer topics are tourism investments and drawing up blueprints for new attractions and improving the existing ones in co-ordination with the relevant authorities.
“Bahrain is witnessing an influx of tourists – one of the highest in the region, and we need to brainstorm on how to maintain our position and further improve our rankings.”
Meanwhile, public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman MP Mohammed Al Bulooshi said the panel was still awaiting government’s progress reports on two causeways between the mainland and Qatar and Saudi Arabia. They are also waiting for details on the new bridge linking Hawar Islands to the mainland.
“We are awaiting studies and progress of work – those projects will easily eat up the five months in follow-up and negotiations,” he said.
“Sixty-eight topics were referred to us and we covered them over 18 meetings, leaving us with 19 issues that require further information, such as Tubli Bay, Tubli Sewage Treatment Plant, hi-tech recycling and re-use projects, besides planned infrastructure and housing projects.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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