News of Muslim Brotherhood Bloc

Non-periodical bulletin on News of MB parliamentary bloc members in newspapers and internet 



 



  • The government failed to respond to MB interrogations on bird flu disaster.
  • The MB warns against foreigners’ possession of Egyptian lands.
  • MB urgent statement on selling AUC buildings to Israeli embassy.
  • MB members warn against misusing employee fund of the registry office.
  • MB members submit a bill on judicial expertise organization and disabled qualification.
  • MB members demand a law that guarantees power generation in slums.
  • MB obstructs agreement on a notorious educational loan.
  • MB criticizes conditions of old sportsmen in Egypt.
  • After MB repeated majority, Soror warns The National Party members to adjourn sessions.
  • Al Beltaji unveils that State Security Police detained 30 young men.

 


News of Bloc


 


The government failed to respond to MB interrogation on bird flu disaster


 


     The Egyptian People’s Assembly, in its morning session in May 15th, 2006, witnessed the most violent accusations which the two members, Dr Hamdy Hassan and Dr. Farid Ismail brought against the government, as they were submitting interrogations on government’s gross negligence and failure to face the bird flu disaster. Dr. Hamdy Hassan demanded a no-confidence vote against the government. He accused it of savagely using sticks to slaughter the chicken and hit them on the head exactly as it did with the demonstrators in front of the Supreme Court building.


     He ironically said: the chicken did not participate in the Judge’s crisis, adding that they did not hold demonstrations so that they were slaughtered and being hit on the head with sticks. He confirmed that this was assured by the report of the joint committee that consisted of committees of health, agriculture, industry, defense, national security, culture, media and tourism.


   Dr Hamdy Hassan declared that the government was responsible for the slaughter of 40 million of pigeons in Egypt though it was confirmed that pigeons did not catch the virus. He added that police and armed forces chased the pigeons in their dovecots.


 


Disaster of Chinese Vaccine


 


In his interrogation, Dr. Farid Ismail demanded to bring to trial the members of the Supreme Bird Flu Committee, as it insisted on importing the spoiled Chinese vaccine, of which thieves and corrupt people gained about one billion pounds. The cost of one vaccine bottle reached 40 pounds and it was obligatorily sold to the chicken farmers at 480 pounds. The government learned of these acts and realized too that the Chinese vaccine was not recommended in scientific opinions and reports of the specialized committees and international organizations It is worth mentioning that those organizations advised not to import this vaccine, and which was not used in the origin country.


    Ismail wondered: What about us if compared to Turkey and Israel that curbed the disease within one week, in contrary to Egypt, where the disease broke out in 20 governorates. Experts confirmed that the disease would remain in Egypt for at least 10 coming years.


 


Taimour unveiled that spoiled vaccine was imported to face the bird flu


 


        The People’s Assembly, on Tuesday, April 4th, 2006, discussed the urgent memo, submitted by Taimour Abdel Ghani – member of the MB parliamentary bloc. It spoke about a number of security campaigns in which big amounts of the slaughtered chicken and egg were seized, though the Supreme Committee on Bird Flu had issued a resolution allowing dealing in it, causing great losses for the merchants.


 


    On the other hand, Taimour indicated that the General Association on Veterinary Services allowed importing a Chinese spoiled vaccine, which greatly worsened the problem. He added there were reports that confirmed that the disease rate noticeably increased in China after using this vaccine. Nevertheless, another 30 million doses were imported. He ordered to immediately stop importing this vaccine in addition to establishing a lab in Egypt to depend on its results instead of the foreign ones. 


 


Former Agriculture Minister spoke about the government’s obstacles in wheat agriculture


 


     Engineer Ahmad Al Lithi – former Minister of Agriculture and MP- launched a violent attack on the governmental policies in tackling the wheat case. Al Lithi spoke, for the first time, in the parliament as a member during the parliament discussion of 33 urgent statements and memos on the wheat problem in the evening session on Tuesday, May 16th, 2006. He violently attacked the government and unveiled plans to keep Egypt, not having its enough quantities of wheat. His words that came as a dangerous confession issued by a former official, raised much applause among the MB, independent and opposition members and even some of the majority!!


     Al Lithi’s speech preceded strong words of independent and opposition members, where they accused the government of obstructing wheat plantation and production, through very strict conditions concerning wheat importation this year, causing great losses for the farmers after reducing prices.


     Member Saad Khalifa confirmed that wheat was a strategic product and its plantation represented a part of the Egyptian national security. The government, in the past, suffered that the wheat ships were arriving from the foreign countries, two weeks or more before end of the stock, and it was obliged to receive them. It, on the contrary, rejected to receive them this year from the Egyptian farmers before May 1st, 2006. He indicated that instead of encouraging the farmers to plant wheat, the Ministry of Social Affairs rejected to receive them and its price reached 150 pounds. There were rumors that the price would reach 90 pounds by the coming year. This would stop the farmers to plant it in the coming years.


       Member Ibrahim Zakariya Yunis demanded to set a clear policy to achieve wheat self-sufficiency, as it endangered the Egyptian National Security.


      Hamdy Ismail confirmed there was a conspiracy against the Egyptian farmer, where the Social Integration Minister issued resolution no. 40 for 2006 after receiving the wheat before May 1st in addition to reducing its price that led to farmer’s great losses. The total losses in Ismaliya reached 7.5 million pounds.


    Member Mostafa Awad Allah thanked the former Minister of Agriculture, Ahmad Al Lithi, who put a strategy to increase the wheat local production, to the extent that it reached three million ardebs. He indicated that the current situation was strange and would harm this strategic product. He demanded to raise the wheat price in addition to a clear policy in this respect.


      Dr. Mohammed Al Beltaji said that ration shares were not enough for the Egyptian citizen. This led, in return, to not receiving wheat from the farmers. These contradictions confirmed that the Egyptian people were punished, either a consumer or a producer. He confirmed that rumors circulated the country, which confirmed that the government would not receive wheat from the farmers by the coming year.


     Member Moussa Ghanoum confirmed that the situation was dangerous and memos were not enough. The Minister should have been interrogated over his conflicting resolutions that harmed the future of a big sector in the nation. He confirmed that the farmer would stop planting wheat in the coming years and this would harm our national security and strategic interests.


    Yehiya Al Meseri said: Egypt represented in the past the center of all crops. The farmer was suffering and defeated by his US peer. The government rejected to receive their wheat to get the American crop.


     Asharf Bader Al deen indicated that while the government was seeking wheat self-sufficiency so that its resolutions were issued through its own will, we find that the Minister of Social Integration issued, within one month, a number of conflicting resolutions that caused much ado. This included the closure of granaries for its ineffectiveness, the reception of one degree of wheat and the demand of land possession for plantation. He indicated that Egypt was the second world country in wheat importation, which reached 8.6 million tons per year. He demanded the government to reconsider these resolutions and support the wheat plantation to achieve self-sufficiency.


 


Al Mohamedi and Mejahed stopped an auction to sell As Salam canal lands in Sinai


 


     The People’s Assembly, in its evening session on Tuesday, May 16th, 2006, discussed a number of urgent memos over the Agriculture Ministry auction to sell the lands surrounding As Salam canal in Sinai to the most prominent investors, neglecting young men and small enterprisers.


    Member Mahmoud Mejahed – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- confirmed that in case these lands were to be sold in an auction, it would go to the most prominent investors. He demanded to necessarily sell these lands to Sinai citizens, who were living surrounding As Salam canal. He confirmed that the government was mainly concerned with Sinai construction, demanding to immediately stop the auction.


    Member Al Mohamedi Abdel Maksoud – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- said that As Salam canal project started in 1994, and it was meant to increase Sinai population to reach 3.2 millions. When we started taking benefit of this project, we found that this auction targeted to sell those lands to the prominent investors. He wandered how we neglected the problems of the youth that were suffering of unemployment, demanding a part of this land to be reclaimed. 


     He, in return, demanded to immediately stop the auction measures. He confirmed that more than 50% of lands should be specified for youth, 20% for small enterprisers and 30% for investors.


     Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid – Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation – confirmed that there was a plan to reclaim one million acres within the coming six years. He added that we allocated 220.000 acres in west Suez for the fresh graduates when we studied As Salam canal project. Concerning Sinai region, there was a resolution allocating not less than 50% for the small enterprisers and he added: “I promised to increase this rate”.


     According to the memos of the two members, the Assembly decided to stop the auction until the case was presented to Committee of Agriculture and Irrigation for discussion.


 


MB demanded disaster committee, Minister of Health admited violations


 


     Engineer Sabri Amer – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- demanded the government to quickly establish the National Association for Disaster and Crisis Management in Egypt where coordination was carried out among all ministries in case of a crisis.


    This took place in the People’s Assembly morning session on Monday, May 15th, 2006, that discussed request of engineer, Sabri in addition to more than 20 members over the deteriorating chicken industry in Egypt. He added that he, before the bird flu crisis, submitted a memo to Ministers of Media and Agriculture. Head of the National Association for Veterinary Medicine attended the session and confirmed there were no disease cases in the country. However, the member, at that time, warned against the possibility of the disease outbreak and the necessity for preparations according to a fully considered scientific plan. Yet, no body responded and the disaster took place.


     Amer indicated that the Minister of Health described the MB member’s speeches as fake, addressing him as saying: we came here only to well defend the Egyptian Nation. He added that the Assembly’s current situation was not for the country’s interests at all. When discussing the memos or the government’s interrogation, the majority aborted this with no reference to the public interest. He confirmed that a special attention should be paid to the state interests away from the party disagreements.


     In a related context – and after a bitter defense – the Egyptian Minister of Health, Dr. Hatem Al Jabali admitted, in the same session, that some companies imported unusable medical systems that would harm health.


    The Minister, who was responding to a question by member Dr. Akram Al Shaer over the topic, said: the Ministry intervened to ban some of the imported patches that contained secondhand and unusable medical systems. He added that some companies like “Jessica” imported these systems and I forced these companies to get them back. The Minister also indicated that the Ministry banned using these systems in some governorates like Kafr Al Sheikh.


    Member Akram Al Shaer said these systems and some other imported medical items spread the bird flu. The Minister responded saying that the Ministry, within two months, would prepare a full report about epidemics through the bird flu disease.


 


MB members warned against foreigners’ possession of Egyptian lands


 


     MB members in the People’s Assembly warned against the foreigners’ possession of the Egyptian lands and its danger on the Egyptian national security and the coming generations. They demanded that a special attention should be paid to the governorates where there was no industrial development after it included, in the pre-revolution periods,  industrial bases, especially the Red Sea.


       Member Mahmoud Mejahed – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- confirmed in the meeting of Industry and Energy Committee in the People’s Assembly on Tuesday, May 16th, 2006 – to review and evaluate the Egyptian industry development program – that we should necessarily preserve and develop the remaining public sector companies, plants and Public Business Sector.


       Mejehed said that developing these companies needed the loyal elements’ help in addition to the exclusion of the corrupt ones. He warned against selling the Egyptian lands to the foreigners, adding that this would enable the foreigners to control the country. In case the government insisted on this, let this be a usufruct for 60 years.


   The MB member Dr. Akram Al Shaer confirmed that the Egyptian industry should be strongly supported to eliminate the social and economic crises that cripple the country.


     Al Shaer demanded to decrease importation, adding that this would not happen except through plans and strategies based on scientific studies. Thus, we can produce and have export companies around the world.


    He demanded to quickly put enough restrictions to ban the dangerous smuggling operations, which were carried out through the customs outlets. The last of which was the smuggling of medicine, Viagra and expired medical systems.


    Al Shaer said that the Egyptian industry was unqualified until now. He demanded to necessarily protect the workers from the private sector companies, who were forced to sign a resignation before working.


     On his part, member Mohammed Kabsa – MB parliamentary bloc member- warned against the industry collapse in Diemetta. He added that though this governorate was considered an Egyptian big plant, yet, the government still forgot it until now despite having skilled labor and several plants that produce everything. Nevertheless, it needed development, explaining that there was an industrial region in the governorate, several years ago, yet, no benefit was made of it until now.


    Kasbah confirmed that tax system was a direct reason for the closure of the biggest plants in Diemetta, evacuating 500 families after its owner was unable to pay taxes and was imprisoned. He demanded to make use of Diemetta port and gas liquidation station.


     The MB member Saber Abu Al Fettouh warned against the dangerous situation after many of the important industries in the country were destroyed, including, for example, Egyptian Copper Company in addition to several plants and small workshops, working in the copper field.


     Abu Al Fettouh wandered: What about the role of the Ministry of Industry in facing this crisis? What about the Ministry’s role over software and heavy industries?


 


Urgent statement on selling AUC building to Israeli embassy


 


      Dr. Mohammed Al Beltaji – secretary of the MB parliamentary bloc in the Egyptian Parliament- submitted an urgent statement to the Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Regional Development as some newspapers spoke about the AUC intention to sell its lands in central Cairo to the Israeli embassy. The member confirmed the matter was serious and it needed to be discussed while preventive measures should be taken.


     The member also submitted a memo to the Minister of Housing, Facilities and Constructional Development in addition to the Minister of Planning and Regional Development concerning residential compounds of the low-income people, newly wed and those hit by disasters. He confirmed that there were a big number of those people in Sobra Al Khema region, and some of them paid installments for more than 6 years and they did not receive their flats.


      Al Beltaji wandered: when would the suffering of those people end and when would they get their flats? What was the reason for such a delay for the families that lived in the open all that time? What about the future plan? What about the criteria according to which these flats were distributed? The member demanded that the demand was filed to Committee of Regional Administration and Popular Organizations.


     He also presented the Minister of Housing and Facilities with an urgent statement concerning accidents of the people living in east the railway, in West Shobra Al Khema region which led to dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries as they were crossing the highway ( Egypt-Alexandria agricultural road). It was considered the main outlet for hundreds of thousands of citizens in cities of Saada and Tawen, east the railway.


     The member said: the delay of establishing a bridge for the passers-by- that linked east the railway to Al Farnoany region- threatened lives of the citizens daily and turned their lives to complete panic.


 


Statements of MB members and others ended Plastic company crisis


 


      The statement, presented by the MB members and other members in the Egyptian People’s Assembly, succeeded to end the labor crisis in Plastic Company, where they staged a sit-in in March 11th till now. The investor- who bought the company- deprived them of their rights especially incentives, medical insurance in addition to layoff attempts. After the member’s efforts, the investor vowed to meet the labor’s requirements in addition to a new contract that guaranteed these rights.


     Minister of Manpower, Dr. Aisa Abdel Hady- in a meeting of the People’s Assembly Manpower Committee yesterday, Tuesday, May 16th, 2006- said that weakness lied in the holding company as the contract should have frankly mentioned the worker’s rights. She indicated that the current form of the contract violated instructions of Ministers of Investment and Manpower. This was not the investor’s responsibility whereas the Egyptian worker should be treated properly, having his full rights.


     She added that early retirement was optional for both parties either the worker or the employer. New agreements should be put for the plastic company to guarantee the worker’s full rights. In addition, the employer should comply with these rights and in case of violation; we had several means of solution.


    Member Azab Mostafa – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- and members Omar Zayed, Mandouh Al Husseini and Said Johar submitted urgent memos over the subject. They demanded to immediately end the worker’s sit-in that started in May 16th, 2006 and it ws still continuous.


      Members said there was corruption in the Chemicals Holding Company, to the extent that the plastic company was sold to an investor that humiliated the workers and deprived them of their rights.


 


Kasbah’s urgent statement on 21 deaths and 20 injuries in horrible bus crash


 


       Mohamed Kasbah- member of the MB parliamentary bloc and deputy for Farascor in Diemetta – presented an urgent statement about the deteriorating state of roads, unsafe means of transport and the government negligence where road accidents were considered the main reason of deaths and injuries in Egypt in general and Diemetta in particular.


     The statement came after the horrible accident on Saro-Roda road in Diemetta where the bus of Textile Company workers in Diemetta crashed, killing 21 and injuring another 20, at least five of them were seriously injured.


    The timeworn company bus started its daily trip to transport the company’s workers at 6.00 am on Thursday, May 11th, 2006 from Saro-Roda road passing by villages of Hagaga, Al Ghaween, Abu Gareeda and Al Dahra, carrying 41 workers. While the bus was taking a critical turn – called by the citizens as the death turn for many accidents took place there- the bus crashed and fell in the adjacent canal.


     The citizens hurried to rescue the employees and they managed to rescue 20 of them. 15 were hospitalized in Public Hospital in Farascor while others were admitted in Diemetta and Kafr Saad hospitals.


    15 bodies were transferred to Farascor hospital, five to Diemetta hospital and one to Kafr Saad hospital.


   MB member Mohammed Kabsa moved with the governorate leaderships to the Public Hospital in Farascor to examine the victims and to console the families of the deaths. The member also joined the funerals in cities of Roda, Saro, Hagaga, Abu Garida and Al Ghaween.


 


Urgent statement on Diemetta Textile accident, workers demanded to oust officials


 


     Ali Fatah Al Bab- member of the MB parliamentary bloc-presented an urgent statement to Minister of Investment and Ministers of Finance and Insurance about the horrible accident of workers in Diemetta Textile Company, where dozens were reported casualties, including women and children.


      This took place while the company workers and employees demonstrated in the company headquarters in Diemetta, protesting on negligence in all the company services. They demanded their forsaken rights in addition to deposition of the company board.


     Some of the company officials tried to end the protest and contain the situation. Yet, the crisis, apparently, would not end through repeated promises. Workers and employees apparently would continue their protest until they could take their full rights.


 


Pastor of Sacred Angle Church congratulated MB member in Nozha upon opening headquarters


 


      Priest Englios Abdou – pastor of Sacred Angle Church in Sheraton Heliopolis – visited member Magdy Ashour – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- in his new headquarters in Nozha which he opened on Thursday, May 11th, 2006. The priest presented the church congratulations to the MB member upon opening the new headquarters.


      On the other hand – as part of his campaign against the government to practically solve the unemployment problem- Ashour presented the Prime Minister with a memo concerning not applying the law that allowed employing 5% of the crippled in public jobs which did not require medical fitness. The member accused the government of leniency in carrying out the measure, in addition to its non-contribution in solving the unemployment problem.


 


Educational Committee in Adwa Center in response to Abdel Azeim’s demand


 


      In an immediate response to memo presented by Mohammed Abdel Azeim- member of the MB parliamentary bloc and deputy of Adwa region in Minia governorate- Ministry of Education sent a committee to study the needs of Adwa industrial and technical school.


   This was carried out after the member submitted a memo to Prime Minister and Minister of Education concerning great shortage of schools in general in Adwa region and the great shortage of the industrial and technical schools in Adwa city, while population in Adwa region reached 200.000 citizens.


    Abdel Azeim indicated that Adwa region had one school with a great shortage in classes, which made many students spend the school class time in the school playground. There was also a great shortage in workshops, which negatively affected the educational process in the school.


     On the other hand, Abdel Azeim submitted a memo to the Prime Minister over the millions spent on Toshkee with no real and true results over the Egyptian economy. This project – that burdened the country’s budget – did not contribute to solving the unemployment problem among the young men.


 


Parliamentary committee supported Al Shaer’s legal privacy and criticized prison conditions


 


      Human Rights Committee in the Egyptian People’s Assembly, in its meeting yesterday, Monday, night, May 15th, 2006, strongly warned against the bad conditions inside the Egyptian prisons in the different governorates.


     The committee spoke about the bad living conditions and medical care in prisons in both Port Said and Ismailia as part of the recently-rendered visit. This depended on an urgent statement presented by Dr. Akram Al Shaer ( Health Committee deputy) concerning AIDS cases in Port Said prison.


     Head of the committee confirmed that the prisoners did not have medical care, which represented a serious warning against spread of epidemics inside detention camps. He added that live examination showed that prisons lacked resident doctors and first aid tools to face sudden injuries.


      He added that any leniency in applying the legal privacy among the prisoners; male and female would lead to increasing disease cases especially AIDS.


    Detention cell: It was discovered that about 23 prisoners were staying in 5×8 meters while Prison Department did not apply the resolution of the Interior Minister – issued many years ago – concerning allocating one bed for each prisoner. Live examination unveiled that 1-centimeter bedding was allocated for each prisoner, which made him subject to diseases. The Committee head confirmed that the deteriorating conditions in prisons punished the detainee twice, freedom deprivation and maltreatment.


 


MB important statements in Parliament


 


         


     The People’s Assembly committees, in meetings that started on Saturday May 27th, 2006, discussed a number of the public issues. The health committee, Monday, morning, discussed two memos, presented by member; Dr.Mohammed Al Beltaji over the problems facing the ophthalmia specialized medical center while the other memo was presented by member Mohammed Mostafa Al Adeli concerning resolution no. 75 in 2006. The resolution spoke about incentives for extraordinary efforts exerted by those working in health units and those holding honorary posts in the Ministry, neglecting administrative workers, technicians and office boys and consequently frustrated those categories.


      The committee, in another meeting on Tuesday, morning, discussed another memo presented by member, Dr. Akram Al Shaer, health committee deputy where he warned against the dangerous environmental dangers due to transferring the cement factory in south Port Said near the water plant, which in turn, led to serious dangers in environment in addition to the power plant. The committee, in the same meeting, discussed a memo presented by member Abdel Allah Eliwa where he spoke about pollution of Ismalia canal, which was considered the main source of water. This consequently led to the spread of the killing diseases like cancer and kidney failure.


     The Housing committee also discussed an urgent memo, presented by member Ahmad Al Kholani over drainage in Port Said and Port Fouad. The Regional Administration Committee discussed two memos presented by Dr. Mohammed Al Betaji concerning chaos in Sunday market region in Shobra in Kaliobiya while the other spoke about the non establishment of a bridge that linked between Al Farnoany region and Taween city and Saada region in Shobra Al Khema. The committee, in its meeting on Wednesday, morning, discussed two memos submitted by member Yasser Mahmoud over wasting millions due to the gross negligence in regional units in Monophia governorate and the other concerning the delayed drainage project in Sabk Al Damak in Bajour.


     Committee of Suggestions and Complaints discussed a suggestion in a memo, presented by member Magdy Ashour, concerning the establishment of a Public Hospital in Marj district in addition to another presented by member Jamal Hanafi over financing clinics and sterilization units of dentistry tools. The committee also discussed a suggestion of member Ali Laben over the increase of care allowances in health integrity hospitals.


 


Al Baltaji stopped Ediucation budget for lack of teacher’s cadre


 


      Dr. Mohammed Al Beltaji- secretary of MB parliamentary bloc in the Egyptian parliament – exerted efforts to stop the parliamentary committee of education and scientific research from approving of the Educational Ministry budget as it did not include the teacher’s new cadre, which was declared by the Egyptian Prime Minister in the government’s statement.


       The member said he was surprised that there was no mention of the teacher’s new cadre in the budget even gradually. Nevertheless, the Ministry allocated more than one million for school biscuits. The situation needed to be discussed.


     The member, in the committee meeting on Monday, morning, May 22nd, 2006, discussing the Ministry’s budget preparing to be approved by the People’s Assembly, said that a no mention of the teacher’s cadre in any budget was very strange. Even if the state justified the matter saying there was no budget, the cadre had to be gradually amended. Yet, it was clear that the school paid no attention for the teacher despite being the corner stone of any Egyptian development.


      He added that this situation violated both statements and vows of Prime Minister in addition to Minister of Education and consequently, it needed to be reconsidered. Al Beltaji demanded to get the budget back to the Ministry to be amended in a way that would guarantee the teacher’s new cadre. The committee members approved of this demand.


         On the other hand, Al Beltaji in the committee criticized the conditions in Al Azhar University hospitals, adding that the Education Committee visited Bab Al Shairiya hospital and it discovered a state of negligence and chaos in the buildings, labs and operating rooms. The member demanded to immediately tackle the situation. He added that the committee rendered a visit to Bab Al Shariya new hospital; a giant and full hospital that needed to be opened as it was still in need of some equipment. This situation needed quick intervention.


     The member also confirmed that the committee also visited University Nasr City hospital and found it was a giant project, which was established several years ago at the cost of 100 millions whereas assets reached 200 millions. The project was not yet opened as it needed a budget of 400 millions to get completed.


    He confirmed that though the building would be considered a giant medical project in case completed. Yet, the state did not allocate enough budgets to compete it, which may destroy the project and waste the already spent sums. The member demanded to increase Al Azhar university budget like the other universities in Egypt.


 


Abdel Azeim warned against danger of environmental pollution in Youseifi sea


    


      Mohammed Abdel Azeim- member of the MB parliamentary bloc- submitted a memo to the Prime Minister and State Minister for Environment Affairs over the environmental pollution in Youseifi sea from the River Nile which provided several governorates with water strating from Asuit, Minia, Bani Swef, till Fayoum.


     Abdel Azeim said that Youseifi sea was subject to great environmental dangers that threatened millions who depended on it as a main source of water, and this would negatively affect it.


     Abdel Azeim confirmed that throwing wastes and construction remains in this vital water canal polluted the drinking water, indicating a pressing need to establish drinking water purification plants in Adwa region which the member was representing.


 


Eliwa’s memo, uregent statement on transport means in Khanka


 


       Abdel Allah Eliwa – member of MB parliamentary bloc and deputy of Khanka region- submitted an urgent statement to Minister of Transport concerning no permissions of buses going from Al Khosos to Mostared and Waili. The member said there was no means of public transport in Al Khosos except one public bus. He wandered whether this bus was enough to transfer one million and half citizens?!


 


     On the other hand, Eliwa presented an urgent statement to Egyptian People’s Assembly speaker as Khanka Passenger Society demanded aid. The society submitted a request to Kaliobiya governor to be registered. The governor in addition to traffic major general in Kaliobiya approved of the demand. Consequently, eight buses were bought for this purpose. Yet, the society officials were surprised at the delay of the final approval as a condition for registration. The file was suspended without declaring reasons, which greatly harmed both the founders and the citizens that would benefit of this society.


    The member wandered: Why this vital service was stopped, though  Kaliobiya governor encouraged the society participation in solving the citizen’s problems.


      On the other hand, Eliwa organized a medical convoy in a charity clinic in Arab Al Aiyada village of Ahl Al Kheir society in Al Ghamzawi mosque.


 


Memo of Al Ramel’s member on school destruction and drug abuse


 


      Member Al Mohamedi Said Ahmad- member of the MB parliamentary bloc and deputy of Al Ramel region in Alexandria – submitted an urgent memo to Minister of Education. He said that a special care should be paid to the educational process, the most important of which is the elementary stage.


    The member spoke of the deteriorating conditions in the elementary schools, especially in Al Ramel region after school buildings collapsed. This endangered our children. Besides, there was insufficient number of schools while the number of students in one class rose to 90 in the single class in Abees, Khorsheed and Al Bar Al Kabli . The member wandered whether we were waiting for another quake to pay a special attention to schools?!


 


Ahmad Dyad, education committee reporter before Egyptian People’s Assembly


 


     Dr. Ahmad Dyab, member of the MB parliamentary bloc, was chosen in the People’s Assembly’s session on Monday, night, May 15th, 2006 as a reporter of the education quality committee, as the original reporter, Dr. Sherif Omar, committee head was absent together with substitute reporter, member Al Mendwa Hussein, committee deputy.


      This forced Dr. Ahmad Fathi Soror – People’s Assembly Speaker – to ask one of the education committee members to be the committee reporter. One of the National Party members, not joining the committee and he did not attend any of the meetings, went to the platform to be the reporter. Dr Soror totally rejected the action. He demanded Dr. Ahmad Dyab to come to the platform and head the session.


    The reporter’s comments on discussions of the members were objective. Assembly’s speaker and even some of the Assembly other members hailed them and met them with applause. Dr. Soror told him “you were extremely wise”.


   He also thanked him for his cooperation in ending discussions well when he was asked to go back to his seat after the substitute reporter, seemed to be hurriedly summoned, came so that the MB member would not remain long on the platform.


 


MB members warned against using Registry Office Worker Fund


 


 


       The Egyptian Parliament Committee of Constitutional and Legislative Affairs discussed urgent memos submitted by members Mohammed Kabsa, Saad Khalifa, Abbas Abdel Aziz, Sobhi Saleh and Ibtsam Habib over the Registry Office Worker Fund.


    The committee, in its meeting on Tuesday, April 4th, 2006 warned against misusing the medical, health and social care fund in the registry office which served more than 10.000 workers. It demanded the government to review law concerning fixing the registry office fees, which were currently discussed in the Shura Council. He also demanded to reconsider the 4th article concerning the worker’s fund as the Minister of Justice should determine the social and medical advantages.


     Member Sobhi Saleh wandered why would not the Ministry of Justice do fair to the registry office workers, while it established a judge’s fund with 50% support of the judicial fees. He wandered about the stance of the Ministry of Justice towards workers of the registry office, despite its extreme importance for the Ministry.


    Member Mohammed Kabsa demanded to necessarily support the registry office workers and to confront any attempts of violating the worker’s rights. He warned against the psychological and negative effects on the workers amid the deteriorating fund, whereas more than 60 workers were supposed to get their retirement bonus after it had no resources.


     Member Saad Kahlifa demanded to necessarily pay the retired worker’s due salaries. He also demanded to pay the bonuses of the registry office workers during the last parliamentary elections, not paid until now. He added that the new amended registry office law was vague and it did not determine any of the worker’s rights. He demanded to necessarily define those rights so as not to trick the workers.


   Abbas Abdel Aziz indicated that this fund was giving the workers 40% of the main salary in the form of medical care for example, in addition to giving the retired workers five months for each year. He added that those rights could not be forsaken. The member further asked for renewal of timeworn registry office desks.


    On his part, adviser Farouk Awad – assistant Minister of Justice and head of the registry office – confirmed that the fund would not be abolished, as it was established according to a certain law. He attributed the decreasing fund revenues to the recently decreasing real state registration, after the Survey Department increased fees. They rose, in one day, from 10 pounds to 300 pounds. Then they dropped to 190 pounds, which negatively affected the fund resources.


    He indicated that the Ministry of Justice decided to provide the fund with about one million pounds from the budget allocated to other items. In addition, the Ministry previously provided the fund with about 1 million and 600.000 pounds. The assistant Minister of Justice declared paying half a month for all the registry office workers for their distinguished performance during the latest parliamentary elections.


 


Abu Baraka’s two bills on organizing judge expertise and qualifying the disabled


 


       Dr. Ahmad Abu Baraka – member of the MB parliamentary bloc in the People’s Assembly – submitted a bill to organize the judicial expertise (consisting of 17 articles in two sections; one in the judicial expertise and those in charge while the other spoke about the expert’s association on the level of formation, specialization, inspection, appointment and promotion).


     Abu Baraka confirmed that the two associations of Experts and Forensic Medicine were two independent, consultative, technical and judicial associations following the Minister of Justice. They were responsible for the specialized technical judicial expertise. He, (in an Expert Association separate section), suggested to establish a Supreme Council. It would consist of the association head, (a council’s head), first veep of the association head and the head’s veeps on member’s affairs, (all specializations), head’s veep on inspection and three of the senior head’s veeps (as council members). The council should convene at least once per month. All deliberations would be held in secrecy while resolutions were to be issued under full majority. The council’s opinion should be considered in bills on expert affairs.


 


Abdel Azeim blamed prices’ sharp increase on the government 


 


       Mohammed Abdel Azeim – member of the MB parliamentary bloc-submitted memos on wheat marketing in Minia, sugar’s extremely high prices in addition to the unprecedented rise of the construction item prices which put a burden on the shoulders of poor citizens and low-income individuals. He blamed this crisis on the government’s unstable policies.


    Concerning the low-income individuals, Abdel Azeim demanded the Prime Minister, Social Integrity Minister and Minister of Finance to immediately pay pensions for those that reached the retirement age, not working in the state or private and public sectors.


     On the other hand, Abdel Azeim submitted seven suggestions. He suggested to establish 20 residential buildings to solve the housing problem, to establish a purification plant in Bartabat village, to develop a purification plant in Al Adwa and to establish a medical unit in Kafr Maghrabi. He also suggested to establish an elementary school in Kfar Maghrabi village, to restore passenger bridge on Yousefy sea in Bandr Adwa and to establish an elementary school in Baskalon village.


 


MB members demanded legal guarantee for power generation in slums


 


      The People’s Assembly Industry Committee demanded the governmental authorities together with the public and private business sector to pay the telephone bills for the electricity companies, enabling them to continue providing slums and power-deprived regions with electricity. He confirmed that consumption fees should remain the same, considering the social class.


    The committee, unanimously, decided to suggest an urgent bill to be presented to the Assembly within days to get rid of any of the current law articles that banned the Ministry of Electricity from providing power in slums, which were currently determined by local administration authorities.


      Dr. Hassan Yunis unveiled that Ahmad Nazeif – the Prime Minister – was currently preparing a bill in this respect too. The committee reviewed the report of Accounting Central System over Egypt Electricity Holding Company in fiscal year 2004.


     MB member Mohammed Al Adeli confirmed that we could not neglect the efforts of Ministry of Electricity in supporting the citizen, in addition to its different administration skills. Yet, we, at the same time, were demanded to reform the mistakes mentioned in the System report. He clarified that it was unacceptable to support the private sector, not cutting off power when it rejected to pay the bill. He stressed that this money should be restored so that it would not accumulate and reach, at once, 5 billions.


     He suggested that credits should focus on slums deprived of power where families, that reached about 14 millions, were suffering of the problem. He added that wrong governmental policies represented the reason for stealing power.


     Saad Khalifa criticized the decreasing resources, which were spent on information and research technologies. While about one million and 722.000 pounds and even more than the available were spent on the company debts. He inquired why no money was taken from the registered sums that reached 385.000 for studies on increasing voltage in Arab Magreb project. He was surprised that 800.000 pounds were allocated for information technology and development while what was really executed only cost 3000 pounds! Khalifa declared that 1.5 million pounds were allocated for the capacitator project, voltage 2205k while what was already executed only cost 262.000 as 17.5% only.


     Member Essam Mokhtar demanded to face such difference in energy. He wandered about the decreasing operation rate reasons. He also wandered about the losses of transport companies that reached 160 millions whereas Distribution Company lost about 110.000 pounds. He also lashed out at the Egypt Electricity Holding Company that lost 12 millions and 345.000 pounds in return for a net profit of 33 billions and 507.000 for 2002/2003.


     He wandered about the decreasing revenues that reached 74 millions and 540.000 pounds while loans reached until June 30th , 2004 about 38 millions and 363.000 pounds. He also criticized the lack of internal censorship and protection of the company’s properties.


    Member Mahmoud Mejahed indicated that a bill should be issued over forming a judicial committee headed by Court of First Instance Chief Justice, with one of the officials in Ministry of Electricity, not less than senior, a member who represented the government sector in the same rank and another representing the Public Business Sector. The Committee should also include a representative of The Ministry of Interior whereas a public figure representing the citizens should also join. The committee should choose a reporter in the Ministry of Electricity to face all sectors in state and private sector that are lenient in paying bills.


     Mejahed said that this committee was responsible – alone- for the electricity – related cases before courts. It also considered all debt cases. He added that it was not proper that the Holding Company due money till June 30th, 2004 reached about 2 billions, 546 millions and 652.000 pounds. Of this sum, there was about two billions, 240 millions and 576.000 at the private sector, about 266 millions and 12.000 pounds at the public sector and about 40 millions and 64.000 pounds at the public sector at the rates of 88%, 10% and 1.6% successively.


 


MB hindered approving a notorious educational loan


 


    MB members led the most violent parliamentary trial of the Egyptian government when the Egyptian People’s Assembly discussed a loan agreement on industrial school project. The MB members rejected to approve of the agreement after the government wasted more than 100 millions in the first stage, not making use of printers and heavy equipment, which were bought to develop several industrial schools.


     The MB members, who represented the majority in the session, rejected the agreement and demanded to immediately bring the former Minister of Education to trial. Dr. Saad Al Katamti – head of the MB- said that what happened was dangerous and required interrogation. The member wandered when would we stop wasting the Egyptian nation’s money in this way. He added that the Minister of Education should be punished as he was the one responsible for this loan, He added that what happened was deemed a crime against the Egyptian nation in all forms.


   On the other hand, Dr. Mofeed Shehab – Minister of Legal Affiars and Parliamentary Councils – tried to calm the member’s anger. He said that in case there were negative aspects, we should confront them without rejecting this loan in its second stage. It had a number of advantages; the interest rate reached 2% whereas service fee reached 1%. The loan would last for 20 years with an allowance of five years. He added that the government was immediately ready to attend the education committee to discuss what was carried out in the previous loan. He again stressed that the loans should not be rejected due to some negative aspects in the first stage. He explained that machines were purchased at the cost of 30 millions while in case of selling, they would cost 100 millions. Sheikh Said Asker had to respond saying that in case of such a profit, he was demanding the government to sell the machines at 100 millions and got enough with this stage.


     On his part, Dr Ahmad Fathi Soror – People’s Assembly speaker, interfered and addressed the government, saying that the People’s Assembly and its members had the right to impose enough guarantees so that these negative aspects would not reoccur. He wandered: what about the government’s measures to punish those responsible for this negligence. He also wandered about the profits of both the loan and the bought machines, which amount reached 30 millions, adding that millions should not be wasted in such a way. The Assembly’s Education Committee, in its field visit to one of the industrial schools in Shobra Al Khema, made sure that public money was wasted and that printers, there, did not work since they were bought and untill now, along four years.


    Soror said, “I expected that Education Minister would respond to these accusations, indicating that what the members mentioned and what reports confirmed were considered, according to law, as a felony.


    On his part, MB member, Ali Laben rejected discussing the agreement and wandered “how can we discuss it, while money was squandered in the previous loan first stage? The loan money in the first stage, he added, was still wasted; only 1% was used after five years, while 30 millions were squandered”. He added that state-of-the-art printers were bought, which were considered the first of its kind in the Middle East, and yet, they were not used while the Ministry of Education was printing the curricula in the publishing houses. They, nevertheless, could have been printed inside the Industrial Secondary School in Shobra.


    Unfortunately, he said, we were discussing this loan while the first one was still crippled. Laben toughly lashed out at the Shura Council that prepared a report about this report where it hailed the government’s success in making use of the loan. Yet, reports of the Accounting Central System and Education Committee confirmed completely the opposite of what was mentioned in the Shura Council report. It was written theoretically away from the actual situation.  


     Member Dr. Mohammed Al Beltaji said:” we learned from the prophet that we should not make the same mistake twice”. The People’s Assembly should not bear the responsibility for the government’s mistakes and its waste of the public property. The coming generation should not face due debts, clarifying that the Egyptian nation’s due debts reached 42 billions including 1 billion as loan installments while 30 billions as interests and other requirements. He wandered why it was necessary to approve of the loan while we had reports that confirmed the loan money was wasted in the first stage. He elaborated saying there was a loan of 30 millions, of which we got nothing and it represented an obvious example of squandering the public property. He demanded to annex the Accounting Central System report about the technical education to this report. He indicated that the previously mentioned report and its comments about the government were deemed dangerous after it confirmed the government’s inability to allocate potentials in order to be able to develop the industrial technical education. He again said that the printers in Shobra secondary school were not used at all.


 


Escape attempt


 


    On his part, Dr, Soror, in the Assembly’s second session demanded the government to deliver an urgent statement during the coming sessions over the measures taken towards those negligent elements. He added the Assembly would not drop these mistakes. The government should be brave enough to unveil mistakes and how they were tackled. He postponed voting on the loan after he found that MB members represented the majority in the first session. The Education Committee, in its report, spoke about a new governmental scandal over wasting money, not making use of grants and loans, which Egypt got from abroad. The committee formed fact-finding subcommittees to start investigations on the loan. The committee delegation – mostly the MB members including member Ali Laben, Dr. Mohammed Al Beltaji, Dr. Hazem Farouk and member Jamal Shehata- already visited the school.


 


Crisis report


 


         The committee report said there was a state of an extreme indifference to the extent that the Educational Building Association would have been responsible for machine maintenance though it has nothing to do with this field. The report also indicated that machines of notebook lining, bookbinding and printing were still intact despite its high technology. The committee also confirmed that training and production of these machines could get a profit of 100.000 pounds per month at maximum.


 


MB member delegation in funeral of prominent journalist, Ahmad Farag


  


      A delegation of the MB members that included Hussein Mohammed Ibrahim – deputy the MB parliamentary bloc head – and Ali Fatah Al Bab, participated in the funeral of the prominent media man Ahmad Farag, who died on Sunday, night, May 14th, 2006.


     Hussein IBrahim confirmed that Egypt and the Arab World lost one of the most prominent media and culture figures. He stressed that Farag’s death caused a great gap in the cultural life.


      Ibrahim presented his and the MB delegation’s consolations to the family of the dead figure, asking God to have mercy upon him and to grant his family patience .


 


Jadu demanded to punish responsible for Egyptian TV obscene scenes


 


       Member Osama Jadu – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- presented an urgent memo to Prime Minister and Minister of Media concerning violating principles and traditions in the Egyptian TV. Channel 2 on Saturday, noon, April 4th, 2006 aired a French episode that included a full one-minute obscene scene which hurt the Egyptian people feelings in Al-Azhar Al Shariff country. The constitution stated, in the second article, that Islamic Sharia was the main source of legislation.


     The member indicated that the series was bought according to a cooperation protocol with the French “CFI” TV. Though the censorship authority already deleted the scenes that hurt our traditions and values, yet, it again was aired on the Egyptian TV with its full scenes. The member wandered about the responsible for this accident?, adding, “What about the measures taken to ban repeating this fiasco?”


 


MB members criticized bad conditions of old sportsmen in Egypt


 


       The MB parliamentary bloc member and member of Matariya and Ein Shmas, Mahmoud Mejahed, presented an urgent memo to the Egyptian Prime Minister over the deteriorating conditions of some old sportsmen in Egypt. Some of them did not have enough money to treat themselves as crippled while others do not afford his family’s requirements or the children’s education. Some of them got 200 pounds per month amid this economic deterioration and high prices.


 


Kholani’s urgent memo over Mubarak’s project on youth housing


 


      Dr. Ahmad Al Kholani – member of the MB parliamentary bloc and member of Port Said – presented an urgent memo to Prime Minister over Mubarak youth housing project. The memo was referred to the housing committee for discussion.


       The member, in his interrogation, spoke of some of the project negative aspects; for example, the proposal age was 20 years without a maximum range, which may enable many young men to propose for the project, as this was the main target of the project. Besides, the unit’s down payment is 5000 pounds, which Al Kholani considered as an exhaustion of young men especially amid employee’s low income. In addition, there was the increasing rise of rents that started from 160 pounds per month by the beginning of the year and would end by 680 pounds by the end of the year. This represented a burden over the young men’s shoulders.  He also spoke of the great rise of the residential unit prices as it reached 86.000 with a distance of 6.36 meters, meaning that the meter cost 1365 pounds, which was considered as an exaggerated price for youth.


 


Helal asks about reasons for canceling tickets of old veterans


 


      Abdel Halim- member of the MB parliamentary bloc- submitted an urgent memo to the Minister of Transport due to canceling go-and-return tickets of the old veterans with a discount of 75%, being confined to go and return only. This was carried out according to a statement no. 18 in 2003 entitled “affiliated instructions”. Helal confirmed that this was carried out in buses, railway stations and transport facilities.


      Helal submitted another memo to Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture as there was no deadline for a permanent development in the lands, given upon nominal prices for businessmen in industrial cities and new construction cities. Helal confirmed that this wasted much of the public money and cost the government great losses in the field of infrastructure in these sectors.


   Helal confirmed that lack of sanctions represented in withdrawing the lands or imposing an interest due to a delay or non existence of actual projects led to a waste of the public property. Helal confirmed that those responsible for these sectors benefited through getting money from banks, guaranteed by these lands without actual projects.


     Helel presented the Minister of Justice and Interior Minister with another memo on the administrative, security and political corruption in addition to the unclear criteria for employment in all the state sectors, being related to the political, intellectual and party beliefs.


 


 


Scandals of National Party members in “looting” Omar Afandi


 


      The People’s Assembly hall on Thursday, May 4th, 2006 witnessed the National Party members’ full rejection of a demand signed by more than 21 members, most were MB members. The demand asked for a fact-finding mission over Omar Afandi’s deal. Member Jamal Zahran criticized the National Party members’ stance, saying, “I register in the session’s record the majority members’ stance, adding that there were inquiries too. A People’s Assembly member was appointed as a chairman of one of the companies of the Internal Trade Holding Companies, whereas an administrative censorship general, who was authorized to discuss the Holding Company files, was to be appointed by Hady Fahmi, saying that there were no guarantees.


    Dr. Fathi Soror, Parliament speaker, decided to refer the file of the National Party member, Heider Baghdadi, to the Assembly Office to study his appointment as a chairman of the Holding Company United Branch company after he changed his attitude concerning selling Omar Afandi. Soror demanded the Investment Minister to present the required papers and documents over the member’s attitude towards the company, in addition to date and decision of his appointment as a chairperson.


       Dr. Soror referred the National Party member, Badr Al Qazi to the Assembly Office to stand interrogation concerning attacking the two members Saad Aboud and Jamal Zahran during the economic committee discussion of the topic.  Dr. Soror said he received a complaint from the two members, which included dangerous events. Incase he was proved guilty during interrogation; he would be referred to Values Committee, as law should be applied on all.   


       The memo, which Dr. Soror received, said that member Dadr Al Qadi ran after the two members as they went out of the economic committee meeting and he dragged them, forcing them to resume the meeting. The memo also said that member Badr Al Qadi insulted and illegally humiliated the two members. The two members said, “This member’s behavior repeatedly occurred with me and others to prevent us from declaring our opinion”.


 


MB repeated majority, Soror warns National Party members to adjourn sessions


 


         After it was repeated that the MB members represented majority in the parliament sessions, Dr. Ahmad Fathi Soror, parliament speaker, in the evening session of Thursday, May 4th, 2006 strongly lashed out at the National Party members for their absence. He added that he, in this form, would adjourn the Assembly session to an indefinite time and that he could not be a speaker for the parliament amid the members’ absence.


 


        Dr Soror indicated that the newspaper would speak about this. MB and independent members attended the sessions while only 30 of the National Party members were there. Dr. Soror noticed their absence at presenting amendments of education law.


   


Soror threatened National Party members with MB majority in parliament sessions


 


     Dr. Fathi Soror, parliament speaker, threatened to adjourn the People’s Assembly evening session on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006, 10 minutes after it began due to the absence of most of the National Party members, All of the MB members were intensively there and they clearly represented a majority.


    Dr. Soror demanded one of the National Party members to summon his colleagues especially amid the absence of majority leader in the Assembly, Abdel Ahad Jamal Al Deen  and Ahmad Ezz, the party’s secretary. Soror added saying: “I hope the majority members would immediately attend, otherwise, I have to adjourn the session”. Here the MB members objected that Soror would cancel the session for this reason. Soror commented “I have to keep the political balance between majority and opposition” and then he joked with the MB members saying, “Some of you can move to the National Party member seats to increase their number”.


       On the other hand, Dr. Mofeed Shehab – Minister of State for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs- strongly lashed out at Abdel Ahad Jamal Al Deen due to the absence of the National Party members. This made the MB and opposition members represent a majority at voting on important amendments in education bill, which was raised for discussion in this session. The education bill suggested that the association should directly follow the People’s Assembly and not the cabinet. When the topic was brought to a vote at the end of the morning session, the majority voted for the suggestion, as most were MB members. Dr Mofeed Shehab, at the same time, demanded to postpone the vote until majority attended. Soror replied that the majority members were neglectful and as a punishment, voting would be confined to those that attended only. The MB members, certainly, represented a majority and they voted on the committee suggestion. Shehab demanded to refer the topic to deliberations again until the National Party majority would attend. Soror approved of the idea and the voting was postponed until the second session, yet, the National Party members did not attend too.


 


Al Ramel Member’s memo on school destruction and drug abuse


 


        Member Al Mohammadi Said Ahmad – member of the MB parliamentary bloc and deputy of Al Ramel – submitted an urgent memo to Minister of Education. He said that a special attention should be necessarily paid to the education process different stages, as the most important of which was the elementary one.


   The member spoke about the deterioration of the elementary schools, especially in Al Ramel after school buildings destroyed. This endangered our children. Besides, there were an insufficient number of schools while the number of students was increasing in the one class where it reached about 90 in Abes, Khorshid and Al Bar Al Kebli regions. Al Ramel member wandered: “whether we are waiting for another quake to pay attention for the schools?”


   He also demanded to promote teachers, establishing a special “cadre” for him to improve education in Egypt.


 


       In a related context, more than 100 teachers and a group of those concerned with the educational process witnessed a meeting between Al Mohammedi Al Said Ahmad, in his office in Saa Square, with Al Ramel region teachers to discuss the most important education problems in the governorate and the way to tackle them amid the teacher’s role in reforming the society.


    Al Mohammedi also submitted a memo to the Minister of Interior over drug abuse among the young men in streets and public places with no one to deter them.


 


MB members present solutions of  New Suhaj city problems


 


      MB members in Suhaj; Mukhtar Al Beih, Mohammed Yousef Mahmoud and Mohammed Mohammed Abdel Rahamn submitted memos in the People’s Assembly over work stoppage in New Suhaj city ( Al Kawamel) due to a suspension of constructing facilities in the city and the incomplete infrastructure.


     The MB members determined the most important obstacles in Al Kawamel city; the companies’ leniency in carrying out projects, as they were public sector companies with bad financial conditions. The city administration followed Asuit city, which hindered the follow-up operation. There was also a sharp decrease of manpower, as no new employees were appointed a long period ago, which exhausted the current labor.


     The MB members presented several solutions to solve the problem. This included attraction to the residential region, subsidization of residential units to be sold in prices, available for all categories. Investors should be obliged to establish factories after receiving the specified lands. Faculties of Suhaj University, adjacent to the city, should immediately open, considered as an important attraction factor. Means of transport should be provided from and to the new city. The National Investment Bank credit, which reached 82 million pounds, should be used to establish water plants, 84 millions to establish drainage and presenting them in bids to the companies.


 


Abu Ouf warned against starving revolution in unemployment interrogation


 


    Member of the MB parliamentary bloc and deputy of Minia Naser, engineer Ibrahim Abu Ouf warned against the starving people revolution that started to increase in Egypt due to the increasing unemployment.


    This was mentioned in the member’s interrogation, which was submitted to the Prime Minister and Minister of Manpower over the unemployment problem in addition to the government’s policy failure in tackling the problem. He warned that unemployment was a time bomb and that it represented the main reason of bullying and social dissociation, which currently prevailed in Egypt.


      Abu Ouf declared that the big part of the problem had to do with the young men who are working for the first time. The unemployment in Egypt was unemployment of the “educated”, as most of the unemployed were university graduates or they had already got a Thanawiya Amma. It was noticed that the rate of the educated among the unemployed was increasing which meant that more energies and investment resources, used in the educational process, were wasted with no results, represented in employing those elements to be productive.


     On the other hand, Abu Ouf submitted a memo to the Minister of Education, as there were no mosques in the new educational building planning. He wandered why there were no mosques in 14 educational building plans, especially as the buildings were wide enough for this. He warned against the danger of this phenomenon on the youth.


         On the other hand, as a way to contact people, Abu Ouf opened an office to serve the public in Meshal Square in Mansoura, where a huge number of citizens were deprived of their true representatives and had great hopes that their many-year problems would be solved.


 


Radi organized opera party under the auspices of Minister of Culture


 


      Mohsen Radi – a member of the MB parliamentary bloc- submitted a memo to the Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni. The Ministry of Culture carried out no activities in popular and official campaigns in Egypt and the Arab Islamic world to support the noble prophet – peace be upon him – facing the western press campaigns.


      Radi in the memo presented a number of suggestions like an opera party to be aired live by the Egyptian TV.  The suggestion was actually passed and the party would be held in May 26th under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture It would include recitation, monologues and religious songs. Mohammed Tharwat and Iman Al Bahr Darweech were of the most important figures that would participate.


 


Al Beltaji’s memo about transferred Endowments’ imam due to Prophet’s Birthday greeting


 


      Dr Mohammed Al Beltaji – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- submitted a memo to the Minister of Endowments over transfer of workers in the big mosque in agricultural reclamation village – Kalioub – Kalioubiya governorate after they were interrogated in Endowments’ building in the same region. This was carried out upon orders of undersecretary (Sheikh Eissa Goda Mokaled) and State Security Police after he congratulated the village citizens on the Prophet’s Birthday. Workers were yasser Taha Thabet (mosque imam), Said Gomaa Yousef (worker) and Mohammed Said Salem Al Suhet (worker).


 


 


Al Kholani demands military medals were on an equal footing with Sinai Star medal


 


     Dr. Ahmad Al Kholani –member of the MB parliamentary bloc and deputy of Port Said- submitted a memo to the Egyptian Minister of Defense upon the difference between Sinai star and other military medals. The military Sinai star value (related to officers) was promoted several times, as the last was approved of in the People’s Assembly to rise to 6000 pounds, with a second rank of 3500 pounds. Yet, other military medals of “soldiers and noncommissioned officers” did not increase since 1990 and it stopped at 500 as first rank and 300 as second one.


 


Soror supported Al Sakhawi’s criticism of TV’s dealings with parliamentary opposition


 


      Alam Al Deen Al Sakhawi – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- sharply criticized TV and its distorted presentation of People’s Assembly sessions. Al Sakhawi, in the People’s Assembly second session on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006, said that TV unfortunately focused on some members and neglected others. In addition, there was an intention of presenting the MB and opposition members in a way that hurt them before their supporters.


     On his part, Dr. Fathi Soror supported Al Sakhawi’s criticisms. He said he condemned distinction and the public opinion should be informed with the whole details. “I do not watch TV”, he said, “ thus I would refer the statement to Dr. Mofeed Shehab, Minister of Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils to inform the Minister of Information.


     Dr. Shehab denied this was done intentionally. The TV, he said, presented a brief of the sessions. Sometimes, briefing was done in a wrong way but it was not intentional. He confirmed that objectivity was the main principle regardless of the party’s tendencies. “I would stress this” he added, ” in my talk to Minister of Information to take care of the complete accuracy in airing sessions with a full equality among the members”.


 


Easy measures to own Iron Company flats after Fatah Al Bab statement


 


         The People’s Assembly Economic Committee, in its meeting on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006, approved to present facilities and advantages to enable workers of Iron Compnay in Helwan to receive their residential units which they booked since they started working in the company.


    The committee’s stance came after the urgent memo submitted by member Ali Fatah Al Bab, member of the MB parliamentary bloc, who confirmed in the meeting that it was important to present great facilities for the workers amid the difficult conditions which they were facing those days.


      He added there was studies to enable them receive their units. Yet, others demanded more facilities. He declared support of the syndicate committee opinion in this respect to immediately start ownership measures.


      On his part, engineer Abdel Aziz Hafez – company chairman – confirmed that the company would never forsake the workers. “We”, he said, “could not demand them to leave these units after these long years”. Central System confirmed that no losses should come out of the selling operation. In addition, no changes would be made concerning the suggested sum, which was approved by the general assembly. Yet, he added, “we were obliged to present full facilities including reducing the down payment to 20% and installments would be paid along 10 years instead of 5” .


 


Al Beltaji said 30 young men were detained by State Security Police


 


     Dr. Moahmmed Al Beltaji – secretary of the MB parliamentary bloc in the Egyptian parliament – presented an urgent memo to the Minister of Interior as State Security Police abducted more than 30 young men in Al Farnoani region in Shobra Al Khema. He added that their relatives and families knew nothing about them or where they were detained. They were not interrogated till now and they, together with their families were subject to inhuman practices when they were taken from their homes at midnight, April 3rd, 2006.


     The member’s urgent statement came among a series of urgent statements presented by the MB members against the practices of the Ministry of Interior. This included urgent memos about violations on Thursday, April 27th, 2006 before the Supreme Court as attacks took place against the People’s Assembly members and the public individuals who went out to consolidate with the Egyptian noble judges.


     The MB members submitted three interrogations over the Interior Ministry’s violations against the Egyptian nation, increasing policy of detention and torture in addition to other urgent memos on Dahab blasts and the lenient security policy there.


 


Al-Azhar, government, members set trail for Bahaism in the People’s Assembly


 


         The Egyptian People’s Assembly on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006 witnessed an exciting polemic over the Administrative Court in Alexandria, which forced the Minister of Interior to give a number of citizens the right to get identity cards that clarified they were embracing Bahaism.


     Egyptian Minister of Endowments declared that the government (State Case Authority) decided to appeal against the sentence. This took place after the Minister of Justice sent a message to Al-Azhar Shiek demanding Al-Azhar’s opinion of Bahaists, so that the State Case Authority could appeal the sentence.


    On his part, Sobhi Saleh – member of the MB parliamentary bloc – demanded the Ministry of Endowments and Al Azhar Authority to act and appeal to prove that Bahaists were astray elements. He also demanded issuing a law that would ban Bahaism, based on principles that violated religion.


     MB member Dr. Akram Al Sha’er said that Bahaists were not Muslims; they were atheists, according to senior Muslim sheikhs like sheikh Qaradawi and sheikh Sarawi in addition to Al Azhar. “How”, he said, “can we recognize them while Islamic Sharia was the main source of legislation and it banned such an extremist thought?”


     Al Shaer confirmed that Bahaists were backed from foreign countries, especially Russia and Britain that saved them from being executed in Iran. He added that US, through Human Rights, practiced pressure on Egypt and the Arab countries to recognize the religion. We confirmed that this could not happen in Al Azhar country. The People’s Assembly would not issue a law that would support those pro-Israel loyalists.


    Member Said Asker declared intention to submit a bill to ban Bahaism and deem its followers as atheists, adding that judicial sentences could be appealed. Asker demanded, “the sentence was issued in April 4th and we were today May 3rd, meaning that about a month passed, so what about the authorities’ attitude all along this period?”, “Why did not it act to appeal the sentence though there was a constitutional court sentence that banned such a thought.


   MB member Mostafa Awad reported that the problem with Bahaism was that the Zionists controlled it. We, he said, demanded the Ministry of Interior not to be meanly used by such astray elements. He added that the Israeli ambassador in Cairo offered facilities to the Bahaists to perform Pilgrimage to Acre.


      Sheikh Maher Okal – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- confirmed that Bahaists were atheists and they should be murdered, quoting prophet’s saying “who diverted religion, should be killed”.


 


Al Azhar University retreated concerning law violation after Al Baltaji’s memo


 


     Al-Azhar University responded to a memo submitted by Dr. Mohammed Al Beltaji – secretary of the Egyptian Parliament MB- as exam date for postgraduate students in Faculty of Medicine, April 2006 was cancelled for an indefinite date, which harmed the students and hurt the university’s reputation.


    The university delegate, that attended the education committee meeting, as it discussed the demand on Wednesday, morning, May 3rd, 2006, said that the university decided to hold examinations by the beginning of May, considered by the member and the committee participants as improper behavior with the postgraduates as they were not informed with the action when exams were cancelled.


     Dr. Sheriff Omar – the committee head – severely lashed out at the university administration for it did not respect the postgraduates. Dr. Al Beltaji also criticized the university dean who did not trouble himself attending the session to respond to what was mentioned in the memos or sending the dean’s veep for post graduation affairs.


     The committee also discussed the member’s mention of the new university hospital. Work in this hospital was not yet complete since more than 15 years. The university delegate said that a loan was to be got to complete the hospital, preparing for inauguration.


    The member managed to get the university administration’s approval to end the problem over appointing the class top-seeded elements. This offended class 2000 top-seeded elements because they were not appointed as if they were targeted. The university delegate said the university started taking required steps to appoint them.


    The member submitted a memo on violations in Al Azhar Faculty of Medicine in addition to gross negligence in Bab Al Shariya university hospital. It was represented in a great shortage of medicine, services and researches. Nevertheless, much money was spent on desk renewal and reforms. Work stopped in Bab Al Shariya new hospital while the donator rejected to deal with the administration to complete the charity. Besides, there was also a change in the Faculty of Medicine BA results after been completed in the faculty examination panel.


      He also submitted another memo to Minister of Health over Ophthalmia specialized medical center in Al-Azhar. The member indicated that Al Azhar Ophthalmia hospital was renewed and cost millions. Its construction was complete several years ago and it was still not working, though. This was considered as a waste of the public property as the citizens did not make use of its services. Nevertheless, its doctors were working, years ago, in a ground floor flat in popular district.


 


Disagreement between parliament members and the government over “education quality” law


 


          Evening session of Egyptian People’s Assembly on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 witnessed a hot confrontation between member Ali Laben, member of the MB parliamentary bloc and Dr. Mofeed Shehab, Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Laben criticized a bill over establishing a national authority to guarantee education quality, as a US association prepared it. The same association previously recommended removing Quran verses from some curricula. He confirmed that it was untrue that the National Party suggested and prepared it.


       Member Abdel Wahab Al Deeb said that the main issue was to provide the required financial resources to apply the law. He confirmed that there were many serious and distinguished laws that were ineffective when applied due to the financial reality. He spoke of the isolated islands theory and that the issue was to find an efficient teacher who had no stable life.


     On the other hand, MB member Dr. Mohammed Al Jazar confirmed that “education quality” laws should be necessarily applied so that we can cope with those countries that were, a while ago, inferior to us. Yet, they excelled us through education. He confirmed there should be society cooperation on education industry.


     Dr. Hamdy Al Tahan – head of Transport committee (National Party) – surprised the Assembly when he declared rejection of the bill. He confirmed it was an imaginary and meaningless one. He justified his attitude saying that it was an attempt to violate the law in any form. “I do not know why it took four years”, he said. Soror replied saying: “Hamdy Al Tahan, head of the opposing party joined the majority”.


      Dr. Abdel Ahad Jamal Al Deen, head of majority, showed his anger and rejection of Al Tahan’s situation, demanding its change. Al Tahan met this with insistence on rejecting this law.


 


People’s Assembly supported rejecting mediation Ministry of Education


 


          The education committee in Egyptian People’s Assembly, in its meeting on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, rejected the way in which the Ministry of Education chose its public exam members, which were carried out through compliments and mediation.


     *The complaints, which the committee received from a big number of education figures, indicated unequal opportunities in the choice of the exam panel members due to compliments as the chosen members could get bonuses of thousand pounds.


       The committee – after discussing a memo presented by member Allam Al Deem Al Sakhawi- demanded to set clear criteria in choosing the exam panel members, while maintaining equal opportunities among all.


 


Al Sakhawi demanded a government’s explanation over mobile “prostitution”


        Alam Al Deen Al Sakhawi – member of the MB parliamentary bloc- presented an urgent memo to the Minister of Communication concerning outbreak of mobile prostitution. This represented a source of danger against youth in addition to the society principles; he wandered about the measures, which the government took towards this crisis?


      Al Sakhawi also submitted an urgent statement over closing “Shalateen” passageway. It represented the only way through which Sudan received the Egyptian exports. It was closed with no coordination with the exporters who were really harmed out of this measure as they had dealings and delay fines. The member confirmed that the passageway exports reached about 200 million pounds per month. It was worth mentioning that losses reached 60 million pounds.


    He wandered whether this act really coped with the society’s desire to increase exports in Egypt, in addition to the maintenance of the current rate. He asked about the official and the beneficiaries?!


 


Parliament joined MB warning against destroying Al Gamaa mosque in Ezbat Al Nakhal


 


         The People’s Assembly religious affairs committee, in its meeting on Sunday, April 30th, 2006, unanimously rejected to misuse mosques, especially Al Gamaa mosque in Ezbet Al Nakhal, east Cairo.


      The committee, in its meeting, addressed all the state officials – with Prime Minister, Minister of Endowments and concerned bodies on top- not to misuse the mosques that should be respected and evaluated.


     Mahmoud Mejahed and Abdel Allah Eliwa – members of the MB parliamentary bloc- warned against the danger of misusing, offending or destroying the mosque so as to widen the street.


     The two members indicated that the mosque was established since 1946 on 400 meters with an adjacent church on an area of 6000 meters. They added that the national unity among Muslims and Christians was inherent in this region, hundred years ago, and that the mosque destruction would lead to some sort of turmoil.


    They demanded to stop the Prime Minister’s resolution concerning the mosque’s destruction in order to maintain the national unity and keep the mosques intact. They indicated that the Prime Minister’s resolution over the mosque came as a resolution to destroy one of the ordinary buildings.


      On her part, engineer Mona Al Shakankeri – deputy of Ministry of Endowments – criticized the committee’s stance. She confirmed that the Ministry was keen not to destroy this mosque except when it was a must, provided that an alternative one would be built before being destroyed.


 


Christian citizen wrote: the MB member, which we did not choose


 


       We were surprised –the Christians of region (24) that included Masara and Helwan – that an MB member nominated himself in the People’s Assembly elections for our region. His propaganda was accompanied by Islamic slogans like “Islam was the solution”. This banned the Christians to nominate him. What made the matter worse was what we heard and saw in the audio and visual mass media in addition to its fears concerning the MB control on elections. We feared that MB members would control the Legislation Assembly and would issue laws that would restrict freedoms.


      Shiekh Mohammedi Abdel Maksoud overwhelmingly won elections- I did not confirm that all Christians rejected him. There were certainly some Christians that previously knew him and they accordingly elected him. I spoke about my acquaintances, which I interviewed during the election campaign.


          Concerning the period that followed his election win, I went to his headquarters in Hadaek Helwan with one of my relatives, asking him for a service. We had no hope that our demand would be met. We were surprised at the warm reception of his office manager Samah. This gave us a glimpse of hope. Yet, what made me really surprised and optimistic was that the services were carried out easily with no complications. Besides, the member personally was following up all citizen complaints. I was not the only Christian one that asked him for a service which he personally executed and followed up.


       In addition, the member held a party celebrating the Mother’s Day. A Christian woman named (Um Milad), from Hadaek Helwan won in the party. I also discovered that a man named Said Tobiya Nakla, from Hadaek Helwan, asked him for a service in addition to other Christian citizens.


     This indicated that the member Sheikh Mohammedi carried out several acts that proved the religion tolerance and national unity. I addressed the region Christian citizens in Helwan and Masaraa to head, with no hesitation, to our region’s member in case they wanted any service.


     In case we did not nominate him as a People’s Assembly member, we were nominating him as the region’s first man. We, as average citizens, would evaluate our region’s member according to the services, which he executed, in our region. We nominated him for this. We, concerning his role in the parliament including law legislation or government and minister’s interrogation, were concerned as far as this would directly affect us. We congratulated the region’s first man, sheikh Mohammedi Abdel Majsoud.


 


US newspaper admitted that MB members changed the Egyptian Parliament


 


        The US newspaper said today, Thursday, March 23th, 2006, that the MB activities in the parliament drew the attention of all neutral observers. The newspaper reported the MB parliamentary bloc member, Hussein Mohammed Ibrahim, as demanding political reform in Egypt in one of the People’s Assembly “hot” sessions, as described by the newspaper. It also spoke about his sharp criticism of emergency laws, which – he described – “had flourished panic among the Egyptians” due to the capabilities, which it gave to the security men in detaining Egyptians for no reasons.


      The report indicated that these demands expressed the MB trend over the political reform. The report confirmed that the Muslim Brotherhood remained, among the political Islamic trends in the Arab world, as the key reference for the observers over Islamic political powers’ merge of Islamic authority and democratic principles in practicing the political activities. 


        The report clarified that the group’s prevailing parliamentary activity aroused a number of security campaigns against its members, represented in a spree of detentions carried out by the Egyptian Authorities against the MB members.


     The newspaper clarified that though the MB did not gain majority, its good performance and organization gave the parliament session new form different from the previous phases. The newspaper reported analyst Diaa Rashwan as saying: “they had changed the parliament. They made the Ruling Democratic National Party feel that there was an opposition bloc that won 20% of the People’s Assembly members.”   


      The newspaper spoke about the MB response to criticisms claiming the impossibility of establishing a democratic regime based on an Islamic authority. The response confirmed there was a contradiction between Islamic thought and democratic political practice.


        The newspaper ended its article with the MB comment on the future of the group’s political practices amid the governmental violence. It reported the MB parliamentary bloc media spokesman in the Assembly, Dr. Hamdy Hassan as saying that “detentions would not stop us, we were used to them, they made us stronger”.


       It is worth mentioning that MB won 88 seats in the latest Egyptian Legislative Elections, held in the last November and December. This represented 20% of the total Egyptian Parliament seats, which made it the main opposition bloc in the Egyptian parliament. This was carried out despite the security men’s violations carried out against the group’s members and electors to curb the group’s election gains.


 


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