CR IP TI ON BS SU
www.kuwaittimes.net
NO: 17039
SAFAR 3, 1438 AH
Kuwaitis hold most negative views of Trump among Arabs
40 PAGES
150 FILS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
60% say Clinton will have ‘positive impact’ on Kuwait
Most motorists unlikely to give up cars KUWAIT: The recent hike in gasoline prices in Kuwait has caused many motorists, whether nationals or expatriates, to rethink whether to continue using their private cars or seek other alternatives. The sudden move by the government to increase petrol prices prompted many drivers to also try to find a better way to compensate for the loss incurred as a result of such a move. Using taxis can be more expensive than abandoning private cars, while resorting to public transportation like buses seems like the best options for many. As seen in several developed countries, public transportation has always played a key role in having lesser traffic congestions as well as lower cases of “road rage”. And with the prices of fuel going up, many car users shifted their attention to public transport means in order to save money as a result of the increasing petrol price, yet they encountered many dilemmas such as shabby bus stops, fewer number of buses that use certain routes, the blazing heat while waiting for the bus and most importantly, the experience of using the bus. In separate interviews with KUNA, a number of bus passengers, including nationals and expatriates, affirmed that they would not hesitate to use public transport to help reduce traffic congestions and to cut down the use of their cars, especially as fuel prices have gone up. However, they said they would do so if extraordinary additions to public transport are made, including an increase in buses, shaded and air-conditioned bus stops, reasonable fares and prompt service. Continued on Page 13
Qatar vows ‘100% compliance’ with key labor reform Population tops 2.6m DOHA: Qatar said it expects “100 percent compliance” from businesses by the end of 2016 on a labor reform introduced to ensure the country’s vast migrant workforce receive their salaries on time. Government figures released in Doha yesterday to mark the one-year anniversary of the introduction of the Wage Protection System (WPS) show that 1.8 million - around 85 percent - of Qatar’s 2.1 million workforce are now paid electronically. That works out at around 37,000 companies. But a senior labor ministry official told AFP that all companies will sign up to the scheme by the end of December. “Our aim is to have 100 percent compliance by the end of the year,” said Mohammed Ali Al-Meer, the director of Qatar’s labor inspection department. “We have a commitment from the (remaining) 15 percent, we have contacted them.” Meanwhile, Qatar’s population has passed the 2.6 million mark as the emirate draws in thousands of workers to build the infrastructure for the 2022 football World Cup, official figures showed yesterday. The tiny state has seen a more than fourfold increase in its population since 2000 as oil and gas revenues have fuelled a rapid economic transformation. A total of 2,611,522 people were resident in Continued on Page 13
KUWAIT: Buses are seen at the main KPTC depot in Mirqab. — KUNA
Min 19º Max 27º High Tide 00:48 & 14:40 Low Tide 08:08 & 19:59
WASHINGTON: Among Arabs, Kuwaitis have the most negative view of US Republican candidate Donald Trump, and only half have a positive view of his rival Hillary Clinton, a public opinion survey from the Arab Center in Washington, DC showed late Tuesday. Some 69 percent of respondents from Kuwait said they disapprove of the real estate mogul, compared to his overall 60 percent disapproval rating in the region, the results revealed. Meanwhile, 50 percent of respondents from Kuwait said they approved of the former first lady, compared to her overall 56 percent approval rating in the region. Kuwait was among the eight countries from which a total of 3,200 people over the age of 18 were randomly selected to answer questions on the upcoming US election. The other countries were Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza), Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. There were 400 Donald Trump respondents from each nation, and questions were asked over the phone. The most favorable view of Trump is in Iraq at 34 percent, and the least favorable view of Clinton is held by Palestinians at 54 percent, results showed. Overall, 66 percent of the Arab public prefers a Clinton administration if they had to choose between her and Trump, and only 11 percent said they would like to see a Trump presidency. Another 11 percent said they have no preference, and the remaining 11 percent said they do not know. The strongest preference for Clinton is in North Africa, primarily in Morocco and Tunisia, the data showed. Continued on Page 13
Court allows two candidates to run Ghanem has best chance for speakership: Ashour By B Izzak KUWAIT: The administrative court yesterday ruled to allow two candidates barred by the election authorities to run in the election after studying their urgent petitions. But the government immediately filed an objection against the ruling and will challenge the verdict at the appeals court. Those allowed are former opposition Islamist MP Bader Al-Dahoum and new candidate Mane Al-Ajmi, who were among 47 candidates barred by the election authorities on Tuesday. A majority of those barred have filed petitions at the court. The authorities barred 31 for receiving verdicts against them while the remaining 16 were banned for not completing procedures of their applications. The government objection will only temporarily prevent the two candidates from running until the appeals court settles the issue. The administrative court will today issue its verdict in the case of former MP Safa Al-Hashem who was barred for receiving a verdict against her on a slander case. Hashem filed a petition yesterday. Former controversial MP Abdulhameed Dashti also filed a similar petition through his lawyer as he has been outside Kuwait since March. Dashti was handed jail terms totaling over 31 years for insulting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Dashti said on his Twitter account that the court will rule on his case on Nov 9. Dashti is also fighting another
court case regarding his registration as a candidate, which was carried out by his elder son Talal at the orders of the court. The government appealed the order and the appeals court is due to issue its ruling on Nov 8. In a related development, former MP Saleh Ashour
said yesterday that the National Assembly was dissolved mainly in order to reduce the chances of the opposition from winning seats in the election. He also harshly criticized the opposition groups and individuals Continued on Page 13