Strategic Alliance

The president of Al Asala Islamic Society, MP Ghanem Fadhel Al Buainan comes across as an astute politician who believes that his bloc will show exemplary results in the forthcoming elections.

The society has fielded six candidates and plan to win five seats in the elections. “ We chose our candidates after thorough assessment by the central committee. There were many applications that were received but the committee chooses the best and qualified candidate who could work in the parliament. The central committee finalized nine candidates out of which the bloc chosen six."

Apart from fielding six candidates, Al Asala will support eight contestants from Al Menbar National Islamic Society. “ Both the parties have decided to support each other and will sign a memorandum of understanding next week. This is the first time that two powerful societies have decided to support each other in the elections. In 2002,we had plans to work together but things did not work out. This year from a political point of view, the alliance will make us the strongest Sunni group in the kingdom and achieve national goals.”

Al Asala society candidates: MP Ghanem Fahel Al Buaiain( Muharraq constituency -8 ( Hidd), MP Shaikh Adel Al Moawada ( Muharraq constituency-1), MP Hamad Khalil Al Muhannadi ( Southern Constituency-2), Shaikh Isa Hijazi( Central Constituency-7) , Ebrahim Busandal( Muharraq constituency-2) and Rashid Abdulrehman contesting from Hala.
Al-Asala and Al Menbar society have decided an electoral adjustment in the Hala area. “ This is one constituency where there will be stiff competition between the candidates of both the societies. They are popular in the area and the voters will decide their fate like any other contestant. We had selected areas in Isa Town and Arad but both the blocs negotiated on the issue and decided to choose Hala as the ground for the battle.” Said Al Buainan.

The leader also believes that he has learned about various acts or laws of the Kingdom. “ We will not repeat the same mistakes that have happened in the last parliament. We passed 20- 30 per cent of issues that were laid on the table. We will not waste the time of the council and will focus directly on main issues like housing, retirement schemes and combining the Pension fund and Gosi into a single body.”
The proposal to unite both the bodies was sent by the parliament in the summer session and the government considered the issue. Accordingly, January 2007 was the date set for the merger of the Pension fund and Gosi.” The government had approved the venture but would only monitor the administration matter. If the government approves the proposal by the parliament the total of the joint venture would yield in a total of 2000 million dinar combining fixed assets and capital.”

The housing problem is also one of the issues that the MP plans to raise in the newly elected parliament. “ In 2002, there were 40,000 applications for allocating housing units and our yearly prediction was 4000 every year which makes a total of about 56,000 applicants. But the issue is critical as there is an increase of about 8000 individuals in the application. We decided that every individual who is in the waiting list for five years should be given BD 100. The housing budget till 2005 did not exceed 35 million dinar per year but in 2005-2006 we approved 200 million dinar for the housing projects.”

When asked about the plans of the society for the election campaign, Al Buainan said, “ In my opinion, every candidate should keep a budget of BD 15,000 meant for campaigning. The most effective tool in canvassing is door-to-door approach that I would be adopting this year. One gets instant feedback that is important for us. There are forty female volunteers working in my constituency who have already started distributing pamphlets and questionnaires in Hidd from block 102- 112 in Muharraq.

The Al-Wefaq national Islamic society is the strongest opposition party in the kingdom and Al buanin believes that the society’s decision to contest for the elections would enrich the democratic experience and the new council will have MP’s with new ides and vision to work for the welfare for the people of Bahrain and promote national unity.” he said.