JEDDAH, 20 April 2005 — With one day left for voters to head to polling stations, election authorities in Taif have noticed that 12 candidates had violated campaign regulations and asked them to take immediate corrective action in order to avoid punitive measures.
The candidates in question had promised that they would improve medical services and establish new hospitals. But authorities said these matters were beyond the powers of municipal council members.
One of the 12 had written that “I am the best among all the candidates,” a statement that goes against campaign norms.
The election supervising committee has already instructed the violators to remove controversial banners and slogans to avoid punishment.
Intensive election campaigning in Taif has caused poster charges to go up to SR8,000 from SR3,000.
Atallah Misfer Al-Jaeed, director of Al-Watan Arabic daily’s office and MBC correspondent, who is contesting the election, said he would work for reforms if elected.
“Among my plans are introduction of advanced technology to speed up work at government departments,” Jaeed told Arab News.
Jaeed said he would concentrate his efforts to increase job opportunities for young Saudis, improve transportation systems and develop tourist villages and promote cleanliness of the city.
Another contestant, Hussein Al-Thaqafi, who is director of Al-Sibaie Institute, said his campaign focused on creating jobs for young Saudis by increasing investment in municipal facilities. He also promised to provide housing loans for youth, cheap housing facilities and new municipal offices to serve women.
In Jeddah, Khalid Al-Sindi, who is contesting the 3rd precinct, said his election program deals with social issues. “My plan is to construct a community center in each district that can serve 10,000 families of different classes. Eleven people in every center will be selected to establish a system that would support the community medically and socially, especially children.”
Abdul Malik Al-Ghamdi, professor of engineering at King Abdul Aziz University, thinks that the municipal structure of Jeddah should be re-planned. He wants Jeddah to be the center of the Islamic world since millions of pilgrims pass through it annually. He is contesting the 6th precinct.
Al-Humaidi Al-Otaibi, contesting the 1st precinct, said: “This area has major problems of water and sewage. Pollution causes diseases. My plan is to fix such problems and raise health awareness.”
Ayman Al-Nomani, a lawyer and a legal consultant, who is running in the 5th precinct, does not want to hold huge campaigns to canvass votes. “Every district should have a recreational center,” he says.
In Makkah, victory or defeat is immaterial for many candidates who grew up as friends or relatives in the same neighborhood. They have given their best to their city and country and are still willing to give whether they win or lose. Their only objective is to help improve the city in every possible way.
Essam Basnawi, a structural designer, says: “I consider myself the municipal man, and anyone who wants to have this position should be fully aware of all the details, specific and general, concerning the municipality”.
He continued, “Even if I am not elected, willingly I will hand over my plans to the man elected for the job and offer all my experience and help if needed. At the end it’s all for our own good”.
Saud Al-Thibaiti, who holds a master’s degree in construction planning and management, said: “I want to establish a council or a club for women so they can exchange their views and opinions and help us. They are well educated, so why not use their ideas?”
Abdulaziz Al-Karimi said: “What counts is the information and the experience you have and what you will do with it. My first priority is to make sure not a single piece of land is sold without being completely ready with electricity, water pipes, phone lines, etc. so that we can avoid ending up with an awful broken streets whenever a new establishment or house is built.”
— With input from Hassan Adawi, Lulwa Shalhoub and Razan Baker
