JEDDAH, 21 April 2005 — Well-known businessman and election candidate Khaled Al-Sindi said that he would raise a complaint against the editorial board of Al-Wifaq news portal accusing it of damaging his reputation.
He was referring to an Al-Wifaq news report which said that the candidate had received a warning from the municipality and the municipal election committee about a project that he projected in his campaign.
Al-Sindi said at a press conference earlier that he had an idea of creating a city between Makkah and Jeddah at a cost of SR5 billion. The city — as he described it — would help boost business and tourism in the area. Some journalists — as Al-Sindi described — did not like the idea and wanted to play with words. Al-Wifaq said in its report that Al-Sindi received a warning from the municipality for “repeating another fake project as the Venice Island.”
The news portal reported that the election committee had contacted the candidate and warned him that his candidature would be canceled if he continued to promote a fake project.
When contacted, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi at the media center of the election committee told Arab News that they have not contacted the candidate over any such issue and that they do not normally interfere in such cases. “After the elections the candidates will have time to get on with their projects and fulfill their promises. If nothing happens then they will stand exposed before the voters,” said Al-Ghamdi.
Al-Sindi said that he did not receive any calls from the municipality and that his project had nothing to do with the elections. He said his project is a three-year-old idea. “I have it in mind and will get on with it whether I win a seat in the elections or not,” said Al-Sindi.
The candidate said that he was raising money for the project and seeking support from different sources. “I think this is a duty that we owe to our beautiful city. I need support from the higher committee of tourism, from the municipality and other sectors,” said Al-Sindi, who added that between 7 million and 8 million people visit the “Bride of the Red Sea” every year.
Al-Sindi said that he would sue the news portal for attempting to tarnish his image. “I am going to raise this with the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Interior and in the court if I have to,” stated the candidate.
