Under its statute, the CPA is supposed to be paid 10 percent of the funds the 28 chambers of commerce and industry in the Kingdom collect from fees associated with authenticating documents. The 10 percent amounts to approximately SR20 million annually.

"The attitudes of the merchants, the council of businessmen and the chambers of commerce and industry in this regard have not been very encouraging," said Al-Tuwaim.

The chambers expressed surprise over the decision to give part of their income to a body they say was created to bother traders. "This is an odd decision. How can we expect businessmen to pay money to a society that does not support their activities or plans?" asked Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He pointed out that neither businessmen nor the chambers were consulted when the decision to allocate 10 percent of the authentication fees to the CPA was taken. "Neither the traders nor the chambers are convinced of the soundness of the decision. They do not, therefore, have the desire or the will to assist the society," Kamel said.

Al-Tuwaim, on the other hand, said the CPA would soon enhance its efforts to protect consumers regardless of the happiness or unhappiness of the traders and the chambers. "We are planning to increase our workforce in all parts of the Kingdom," he said.