ABU DHABI // Sultan Al Sammahi had tears in his eyes he was so overjoyed when he was elected to the FNC. Thankful for voters’ support, he welcomed all their requests and passed along what he could to the council.
Although Mr Al Sammahi is quiet in the FNC public sessions, he has played an active role as a member of the health, labour and social affairs committee for the past three years.
The committee has been one of the busiest in the council, going through bills and making field visits to hospitals. It has visited the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Affairs centres to check on beneficiaries, calling for the introduction of unemployment benefit.
During discussions on the Child Rights law, Mr Al Sammahi was in favour of adding a clause that made breastfeeding a right for every child.
He is also a member of the Islamic Affairs and Awqaf and Public Facilities committee. During a visit to the UAE Islamic Authority, he said Islamic teachers in schools should be Emirati, to avoid religious extremism. “We can ask the Government to subsidise their salaries in the private sector,” he said.
“Today we suffer from a weak Islamic curriculum, which could lead to extremism, or no religion, or other non-mainstream attitudes.”
osalem@thenational.ae
