MPs postpone voting on misconduct controversy

Manama: Following a prolonged discussion and controversy among MPs, the House of Representatives agreed to postpone voting on the questioning of a fellow MP for claims of misconduct.

The issue was initially reported by MPs Anas Buhindi, Jamal Dawood and Mohsen Al Bakry, demanding to form an investigative committee to look into the behaviour of MP Khalid Al Shaer shown during the Parliament’s weekly session on April 5.

The three MPs requested to refer the matter to the council’s Legislative and Legal Committee for inquiry.

Their complaint was mainly against the statements made by Al Shaer during the session, which included a heated discussion among MPs on applying amendments to some of the kingdom’s conservations in regards to the international agreement of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Al Shaer had apparently accused the council’s Woman and Child Committee members, including the three MPs and the Committee Head MP Roua Al Hayki, of receiving bribes to pass the amendments.

Buhindi had repeatedly demanded the council’s Speaker Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Mulla to hold Al Shaer accountable for his accusations. However, Buhindi wasn’t present at yesterday’s session, as he is on an official assignment in Jordan.

On the other side, several MPs called for solving the issue internally between the involved parliamentarians.