Minister of Social Affairs: Kuwait’s interests and the protection of public funds are a red line; I will not tolerate courtesy in the cooperatives

Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Dr. Amtal Al-Huwail emphasized that the member appointed to the boards of directors of cooperative societies represents the Ministry of Social Affairs, serving as a position of trust and responsibility. She clarified that their presence on the board is not for prestige or public appearance, but to fulfill a national duty that contributes to safeguarding public funds and shareholders’ assets, while enhancing the integrity of cooperative operations.

She stressed the necessity of strict adherence to integrity, neutrality, professionalism, and transparency in all decisions and practices, applying laws and regulations without any favoritism, selectivity, or leniency, as everyone is equal before the law.

The minister called on members to reject any gifts, benefits, pressures, or intermediaries that could compromise decision-making independence, lead to conflicts of interest, result in self-dealing, or raise suspicions of misappropriation of public funds. She also urged the rejection of any external interference, regardless of the relationship of those involved, whether they are relatives, friends, or colleagues.

She explained that protecting the assets of cooperatives, shareholders’ funds, and state properties, including investment branches, constitutes a national trust and responsibility, with their preservation being a top priority for the ministry.

Minister Al-Huwail urged members to develop clear supervisory and corrective plans, monitor all observations and violations, and promptly report them to the Supervision Department and relevant authorities to address deficiencies before they escalate. She affirmed that the ministry possesses the necessary tools to support reform efforts.

She confirmed that a member’s role extends beyond attending board meetings to include fieldwork, monitoring operations within cooperatives, ensuring service quality, verifying the condition of branches and facilities, assessing maintenance levels, ensuring compliance with municipal and environmental regulations, and reporting observations promptly.

She emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong supervisory mindset, not overlooking any violation, irregularity, or suspicion of corruption, and promptly notifying the ministry and relevant supervisory authorities, coordinating with them when necessary, as reporting violations is a national responsibility.

Al-Huwail called for the preparation of accurate, objective, and professional supervisory reports, free from personal considerations or individual disputes, as such reports underpin critical decisions that may lead to the dissolution of boards of directors or legal actions, requiring the highest levels of accuracy and neutrality.

She affirmed that the objective of appointing members is to correct the course, address deficiencies, and resolve problems affecting some cooperatives, rather than merely documenting violations without seeking to rectify them.

She stressed the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of information and official documents, prohibiting the leakage or circulation of any documents via social media, considering such actions a moral and professional responsibility.

She urged respectful treatment of all parties, including employees, shareholders, consumers, and companies dealing with cooperatives, and adherence to legal provisions in all procedures, warning against mistreating any party.

Members were instructed to refrain from issuing any media statements or publishing on social media or cooperative-affiliated platforms regarding their supervisory activities. She confirmed that any violation of this directive may result in the cancellation of the individual’s appointment.

She clarified that compliance with regulations, bylaws, and directives is mandatory and allows for no leniency; any negligence in performing supervisory duties may expose members to legal and administrative accountability, disciplinary sanctions, and potentially the termination of their appointment.

She affirmed that the ministry is committed to strengthening governance principles, transparency, and the efficiency of cooperative work, noting that the current stage requires addressing existing observations in several cooperatives, and that the continuation of violations after the appointment of members necessitates intensified efforts and accelerated reform.

The minister concluded by reaffirming her confidence in the members, stating that their success in fulfilling their duties is synonymous with the success of the cooperative sector as a whole. She renewed her support for anyone working with integrity and objectivity, emphasizing that the interests of Kuwait, the protection of public funds and shareholders’ assets, and the application of the law are red lines that cannot be compromised, and that serving citizens remains the ultimate goal for all.