MUSCAT: Shaikh Ali bin Nasser al Mahrouqi, Secretary-General of Majlis Ash’shura, hailed His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ interest and continuous care to Shura march in the Sultanate, which led to its maturity and development.
He said in a special interview with Oman News Agency (ONA) that the good turnout and the great success witnessed by the previous elections for the current term resulted in the emergence of a group of members, mostly youth, with graduate and postgraduate degrees, whose homogeneity contributed to the active leadership in activating the functions and competencies of Majlis Ash’shura in various fields and at various levels.
The secretary-general said that during this period the Majlis has studied 18 laws, 39 agreements submitted by the government, submitted 6 draft laws and 19 studies and requests, and discussed 14 ministerial statements.
“During this term, the use of monitoring means and tools has doubled. Parliamentary questions directed at the government reached more than 400 questions. During the first three sessions of this period, 121 requests were submitted more than three times the seventh period. 74 meetings of the Majlis and 342 meetings of specialised committees were held,” he said, indicating the volume of work and efforts exerted by Majlis Ash’shura and its members in order to exercise the legislative, financial and supervisory powers stipulated in the Basic Law of the State, amended by Royal Decree No 99/2011, which created a real partnership with the government.
With regard to the joint sessions between Majlis Ash’shura and the State Council, the secretary-general of Majlis Ash’shura praised the tangible role and cooperation between the two councils and reflected positively on mutual understanding and cooperation, saying that the joint meetings are a translation of the provisions of the Basic Law of the State and the vision of His Majesty the Sultan to activate the joint coordination between the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura under the umbrella of the Council of Oman.
On the participation of Majlis Ash’shura in preparing the future vision, “Oman 2040”, he pointed out that the Majlis participated actively in all the sectoral laboratories of “Tanfeedh” programme which presented many opinions and proposals, considering that the importance of the participation of the Majlis lies in the formulation of the vision that represents the citizen’s point of view, as the members of the Majlis are the link between citizen and government.
He stressed that the cooperation between the government and Majlis Ash’shura exists in many areas of interest to the homeland and the citizen. The Majlis, after discussing the draft budget, submits its recommendations and views.
He added that the Council of Ministers responds annually to the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura, about their recommendations that were not taken into consideration on the draft general budget of the State with reasons. The Majlis has several channels of communication with the Council of Ministers from a semi-annual meeting with it, a meeting of Majlis Ash’shura’s Office with His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, and also meetings with the ministerial coordinating committee formed by the Minister of Legal Affairs whose tasks are to overcome the difficulties and find solutions for the reasons that warrant this, and there is an open meeting with the whole cabinet in free meetings aimed at exchanging views.
— ONA
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