- Musallam Al-Barrak
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Musallam AlـBarrak is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1956, Al-Barrak studied Arab literature and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait, Al-Barrak affiliates with the Popular Action Bloc. He is a member of the Mutairi tribe.[1]
Redistricting Walkout
On May 15, 2006, Al-Barrak and twenty-eight other MPs walked out of parliament when the cabinet backed a motion to refer a redistricting reform bill to the constitutional court, which effectively meant delaying reforms.
Al-Barrak then joined MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaie in urging opposition MPs to sign a reform document pledging to work to slash constituencies to five from the current 25 following the June 29 elections. All 333 candidates for parliament were asked to join the initiative by signing the Reform Charter. Al-Tabtabaie declared that, "The names of supporters will be published in the newspapers for voters to know who backs reform and who doesn't."[2]
Critical of Yemeni President Saleh
On January 6, 2007, Al-Barrak called for halting foreign aid to Yemen and other countries that have seen protests against the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Al-Barrak strongly condemned the positions of Yemen, Libya, Fatah, Hamas, and certain groups in Jordan that deplored Saddam’s execution and hailed him as a martyr. Al-Barrak ridiculed Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, calling them “the orphans of Saddam Hussein who will face the same dark fate." Al-Barrak was quoted by the Kuwait Times as saying, "Yemen’s president has said that Saddam’s execution is an insult to all Arabs and we say that it is an insult to all leaders who oppress their people. Saddam has gone to the dustbin of history while his orphans Saleh and Gaddafi wait for their dark fate." Al-Barrak went on to say he regretted the flow of Kuwaiti financial aid to Yemen and other countries, the latest of which was a $200m interest-free loan to Yemen: “It appears that our destiny is to increase aid and help to countries while they increase their insults towards us. We urge the government to defend the dignity of the Kuwaiti people."[3]
Resignation of Oil Minister Bader Mishari al-Humaidhi
After Al-Humaidhi was appointed oil minister in the October 28, 2007, cabinet shuffle, Al-Barrak and Daifallah Bouramiya wanted to question him about failing to curb consumer debts and embezzlement in state investments abroad during his time as finance minister. The prime minister pre-empted the parliamentary grilling and angered lawmakers who accused him of covering up corruption and undermining their constitutional right to question ministers.[4]
The political standoff reached unprecedented levels when the prime minister and the speaker of the house, Jassem Al-Kharafi, exchanged criticism and accusations in a television interview and a statement published in the country's newspapers. [5]
Resignation of Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah
On June 25, 2007, Al-Barrak, Abdullah Al-Roumi, and Adel Al-Saraawi accused Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah of using his influence when he was chief executive officer of Kuwait's Burgan Bank to open accounts at the request of his cousin, in the names of paper companies so that they could be used for siphoning the stolen money. Minister Al-Sabah, who is a member of the royal family, resigned before a vote of no-confidence could be held against him. Transportation Minister Sharedah al-Mawashergi resigned in solidarity with the Oil Minister.[6]
Criticized Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih
On January 22, 2008, the parliament voted 27-19, with two abstentions, against the impeachment of Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih.
In the lead-up to the vote, Al-Barrak, Ali Al-Daqbaashi, Saleh Ashour and Hussein Muzyed spoke against the minister while Khalaf Al-Enezi, Ali Al-Rashid, Mohammed Al-Sager, and Adel Al-Saraawi spoke in her defense.[7]
Subeih had to defend herself against allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three male students had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and issued an apology.
Islamist lawmaker Saad al-Shreih also accused Subeih of not showing enough respect for Islam when she did not punish a 14-year-old girl who had allegedly drawn a cross on her religion text book and scribbled notes on it that she hated Islam. The minister told the house there was no evidence the girl had actually done that and so she was just referred to counseling. Shreih, however, still managed to gather the requisite signatures of ten lawmakers to force the no-confidence vote.[8]
Opposed Guaranteeing Bank Deposits
On October 28, 2008, the parliament voted 50-7 to insure all types of deposits in all local banks within Kuwait. Al-Barrak opposed the bill, along with Jabir Al-Azmi, Hussein AlـQallaf Al-Bahraini, Daifallah Bouramiya, Mohammed Al-Obaid, Mohammed Hayef AlـMutairi, and Waleed AlـTabtabaie. Al-Barrak accused the Cabinet of speeding up the bill's passage for the benefit of monetary tycoons.[9]
Mandatory Retirement Age for Teachers
On November 28, 2008, MP Abdullah Al-Roumi joined MPs Khaled AlـSultan Bin Essa, Hassan Johar, Al-Barrak, and Marzouq AlـHubaini Al-Azmi in formulating a bill to extend the mandatory retirement age for Kuwaiti teaching staff at Kuwait University from 65 to 70 years. They argued that Item 32 of Law no. 15/1979 has denied the country services of able and intelligent academicians by restricting retirement age of Kuwaitis to 65 years. They recommended that a clause be added to the law such that the retirement age can become 70 years and can further be extended to 75 years.[10]
Protested Against Israeli Attacks
On December 28, 2008, Kuwaiti lawmakers Mikhled Al-Azmi, Musallam Al-Barrak, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Jaaman Al-Harbash, Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi, Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Nasser Al-Sane, and Waleed Al-Tabtabaie protested in front of the National Assembly building against the attacks by Israel on Gaza. Protesters burned Israeli flags, waved banners reading, "No to hunger, no to submission" and chanted "Allahu Akbar". Israel launched air strikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on December 26 after a six-month ceasefire ended on December 18.[11]
References
Categories:- Arab people
- Members of the National Assembly of Kuwait
- Living people
- 1956 births
- Popular Action Bloc politicians
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