Bahrain MP Al Maarfi bats for rights of expatriates
Bahrain MP and Parliament Services Committee Vice Chairman Mohammed Al Maarfi has vowed to stand for the rights of the expatriates, saying that they make half of the population of Bahrain and cannot be ignored in any way.
Speaking to DT News yesterday, he said there should not be any discrimination between the Bahrainis and non-Bahrainis. Both are equally important in nation- building. Whatever Bahrain has become today is the outcome of the aggregate efforts of both the Bahrainis and expatriates alike.
Maarfi said they were with the people, no matter Bahrainis or non-Bahrainis. Bahrain is for all and whoever lives in Bahrain is part of Bahrain and cannot be singled out in any way. The expatriates are the equal partners in the building and development of the country, so they must be given equal importance, irrespective of their nationalities.
Speaking on the decision of removing subsidies, he said “it was not going to benefit Bahrain in any way. It will not solve the problem. On the other hand, it will create more problems and will affect the economy of Bahrain badly”. He asked the government authorities concerned to review the decision and make things as they were before the decision.
“Parliament does not want to cause any discrimination between the Bahraini society. We feel responsible for the expatriates as we feel for the Bahrainis. They are the essential and very important part of the Bahraini society and being the representative of the people, we stand for their rights,” he said.
He said Parliament was not in favour of lifting meat subsidy. “It was the government’s independent decision and not that of Parliament. Parliament did not approve the decision of lifting subsidy in its current structure because it discriminates almost half million population,” he added.
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