1. Healthcare

Gulf Daily News
Monday, 2nd February 2015
Email: [email protected]
Shura puts off
crunch debate
on corruption
A DEBATE over whether staff at government-owned
companies should face the same penalties for bribery as
civil servants has been postponed by the Shura Council.
The move is opposed by the government, which says private
sector companies cannot be considered public sector – even if
the government owns more than a 50 per cent stake in them.
Discussions on amendments to the Penal Code have now
been postponed by the Shura Council’s foreign affairs, defence
and national security committee.
Meanwhile, members were also divided over an article in
the Penal Code that includes jail sentences for those who insult
parliament, the Shura Council, security forces and the public
interest.
Those opposed said the term “public interest” was vague and
needed proper definition.
Tougher punishments for manslaughter, which would intro-
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
duce three-year jail sentences for those convicted of the crime
– or five years if there are multiple victims – were also up for
debate.
Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh asked for the penalties to be
aligned with a new traffic law, which will be introduced next
week.
However, the Shura Council did approve an article on jail
sentences and fines for those who leak information from parliament and the Shura Council’s secret meetings.
It also approved a reply to His Majesty King Hamad’s address during the launch of the new legislative term – despite
complaints that it was full of spelling mistakes and not worded
properly.
Mr Al Saleh was tasked to make the necessary changes.
[email protected]
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15
Jeremih to perform on
Valentine’s weekend
CHART-TOPPING RnB artist
Jeremih is set to perform at Ibrida
in the Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa
this Valentine’s weekend.
Known for his hit songs Birthday
Sex and Don’t Tell ‘Em (featuring
Y G), which is currently in the UK
Top 40 singles chart, Jeremih will
appear at the popular Seef venue
on February 12. He is touring
throughout February to promote the
launch of his new album Planes.
For more information, call Ibrida
on 17111999.
n Amnesty plan
A PLAN to hold a general
amnesty for Bangladeshis
living illegally in Bahrain was
discussed at the Labour Market
Regulatory Authority (LMRA)
yesterday.
Bangladesh Ambassador K
M Mominur Rahman gave a
presentation to LMRA chief
executive Ausamah Al Absi at
the meeting, highlighting the
more than 36,500 of his nationals,
estimated to be residing in
Bahrain without a valid visa.
The diplomat told the GDN
in November last year that
as many as 80 per cent of the
illegal workers in Bahrain were
Bangladeshi.
Yesterday’s meeting saw the
two sides discuss ways to reduce
the number of Bangladeshis
living illegally, with Mr Al Absi
stressing the need for action.
n Jeremih
n Women in focus
INFORMATION Affairs Authority
and Supreme Council for Women
(SCW) met yesterday and
discussed ways to implement the
national strategy for empowering
Bahraini women. Information
Affairs Minister Isa Al Hammadi
underlined the role of media in
supporting national efforts to
empower women, accentuate their
achievements and consolidate
efforts to work out an action plan to
achieve the goals set by SCW. The
meeting also discussed the progress
made in the field of human rights.