Disclaimer : The views, opinions, conclusions and other information expressed in this post solely those of the author which is me based on what I heard, told, read and do not necessarily represent those of involved parties. It has no other hidden agenda or politically intention. Genuinely my 2 cents.


I bet everyone knows from head to tail what had happened to Egypt recently. It's been on front pages of most news paper and aired during prime time on CNN. It turned out that those protest in Egypt fast becoming starting point, the sparks that ignite the bigger flames which indirectly triggers other Arabian from others countries to start their own protest, of course with different agenda and mission. First Egypt, then Bahrain.. and now Kuwait. What happened in Egypt obviously rooted from unsolved internal affairs issue that being dragged for so many years, to which sadly had to resort to this protest involving large numbers of casualties.

Anyway, I was supposed to be flying to Bahrain on 1st March for my visa renewal and also for my husband medical checkup matters. Too bad things happened the way it's happening now that we had no choice but to cancel our trip, or shall I say re-route to another GCC country. Egypt is way out of question apparently. I was thinking about Dubai or Qatar. Never been to Dubai before so this is a good opportunity. However, my husband can take only 4 days leave which not sufficient if we were to travel to Dubai. It is Dubai we're talking about people !! There'd be so much things to do, to see, to taste and to explore. So I had ro say no to Dubai this time.

Looks like Qatar was our only/best/safe option, there is. My uncle is working and staying there for a start. Lodging and foods won't be any problem. Plus it is much more safer travelling to a place where we have acquaintances and someone we can rely on in case of emergency. Anyhoo, so far we're still undecided about where we would go. You'll know soon once we decided.

Well, back to the topic, from what I know, Egyptian started the riot because they wanted Hosni Mubarak to step down since he had been holding the throne for 3 decades and I guess he failed to deliver good job or didn't work hard enough causing majority of his people lived in poverty. In fact, in Q8, majority labour and general workers came from Egypt. Of course they're Egyptian doctors and other professionals here but the number are way too small. Same case with Bahrain, whereby Bahraini started the protest to demands for their rights and better life. However, protest in Q8 was slightly different in terms of protester.

Recent protest in Jahra, was made happened by this group call Bidun ( Bidoon). From what I was told when I first came to Kuwait, Bidoon was a group of state-less Kuwaiti. Remember The Terminal where Tom Hanks got stucked in the airport and not allowed to neither going out to New York nor going back to his country because his country was in war and he was then declared citizen-less? Ring any bell? This Bidun situation was also the same. Below are what wikipedia has to say about Bidun..

"The term bidoon (alternative spelling: bidun) is short for the Arabic phrase meaning "without nationality" (bidun jinsiya), and in Kuwait refers to longtime residents of Kuwait who, under the terms of Nationality Law 15/1959, some should be eligible for Kuwaiti nationality by naturalization but who have not been granted it. In the 1920s there were no border control between neighboring countries, other people from other countries resided in Kuwait and want a Kuwaiti citizenship. The main concern of the Kuwaiti government is that some people are not "Fully Kuwaiti".

Biduns may be people who did not fill in proper citizenship paperwork (perhaps due to illiteracy, xenophobia or ignorance) prior to 1920, have illegally entered these nations to avoid poverty or war, or those who have settled in Kuwait since 1920 but who have not been recognized by the state. They are not afforded the rights of a full citizen of the country and cannot vote. The children of bidun fathers are themselves considered bidun."

In short, they're nomadic group of Arabic that was denied their citizenship and by saying that means, denied the opportunity to better education, marriage, career and social needs like driving license and such. Baby of Bidun was denied birth certificate. They may dressed like Kuwaiti, they talked like Kuwaiti, they looked like Kuwaiti but they're nothing but Kuwaiti.

On lighter and more jolly note, I've read recently a report in Kuwait Times that said government has decided that a baby from Bidun women whose tied a conjugal ties with Kuwaiti man will be given a birth certificate, unlike previously. However, the mother's nationality in the certificate will remained blank for that matters. At least the baby will finally get to enjoy full benefits.

As can be seen now especially in my residential area, most Bidun turned out to be driver ( maybe illegally) or security or labourer to earn a living. Basically the lowest level in society. There's not much choice I guess since they were denied education for they didn't have birth certificate to register to a school. As sad as it may appear, most young Bidun resorting getting involved in many crime case such as robbery, man slaughter or drugs traficking, due to tekanan hidup, lack of education and opportunity, I guess.

So, this group of Bidun was the one responsible to start a commosion in Jahra few days back with one and only demand which is to get a better life, for their voice to be heard and to claimed back their rights as a Kuwaiti and redeemed benefits they're entitled for. I can understand their frustration actually because being declared and acknowledge as Kuwaiti could only means better prospect, brighter future and decent life for them. Kuwaiti government that I know was very generous. Below are among benefits as a Kuwaiti ( that came to my knowledge. This was not official facts, please take note! )

- Young Kuwaiti who wants to get married will be given a gift by the government because they wanted to encouraged young people to get married and get children. In statistic, total up of Kuwaiti people was only about 1 million yet expatriate in Kuwait has reached to a whopping 3 millions . An option of a villa or cash money equivalent to a villa. Nice ehhh !

- Parents will receive around KD 50 per child every month as a child allowance.

- Government had allocate certain subsidi for Kuwaiti who own a maid. The subsidi comes in terms of beras and such. This is why it's a norm view in Kuwaiti families to have 1 maid for 1 child which means 5 maids for 5 childs.


- This is for good news for a man. There'll be an allowance for wife/wives. They more wives they got, more allowance they'll receive monthly. In Malaysia, in most cases, most man will get in trouble for having more than 1 wife. In here, they're given a bonus :)

- In conjunction of Independance day, each Kuwaiti will receive KD 1000 ( RM 11000. Last year I heard KD 200). Means if you're a Kuwaiti with 1 wife and 3 kids, you'll get KD 5000. You do the aftermath for those Kuwaiti with 2-3 wives. You haven't heard all yet. Apart from KD 1000, they'll also receive 14 months of food supplies starting Feb 2011. Every month all they have to do was visit the appointed Co-Op and collect their supplies. Very thoughtful rite ?

And many many many more miscellanous benefits that I didn't know off. So if you're asking me, honestly.. it's not bad at all being a Kuwaiti. It would be nice be born as a Kuwaiti which explained the frustration and anger of Bidun because most of them was born and bred in Kuwait but was not treated like one.

To end my long winded , I would like to urge all Muslims out there to pray for the best to those protesters. We may failed to understand their intentions for we are not in their shoes, and we may not necessary agree with their chosen method of raising their voice, but at least we can pray for them. That's the least a Muslim can do for each others. At least that's what I can afford to do given I was actually living among them and in country neighbouring to them. So technically, I am involved.

May Allah shower us all with His bounties, bestow upon us His blessings , lead us to the righteous path and protect us from harm.

Amin.