In Asir Province in southern Saudi Arabia, the governor has ordered an investigation into a scam over the distribution of government land involving a number of municipality officials. Those being investigated include the head of the land allocation committee in the city of Abha and other committee members. Land given to some citizens has been taken back.
We have long been under the impression here that certain bodies and authorities were above the law and would never face any kind of investigation. We have called for denying them immunity or for making them above the law. To serve the public interest, they should be questioned like anybody else and subjected to whatever the law prescribes as punishment. We have constantly said that important decisions involving public money and the public interest should not be in the hands of one person but in the hands of several so that the responsibility is collective. We have called for an efficient monitoring mechanism to oversee the performance of public bodies and ensure that money is spent on what it has been appropriated for and not squandered on what some officials think is important.
Public officials are humans and can err. The question is how to ensure that the public money entrusted to them is indeed in safe hands. This can only be done through a reliable and effective monitoring system and never by leaving things to chance. Many irregularities have been discovered by accident; many others remain hidden, waiting for the day when everything comes out.
It is our duty to uncover wrongdoing and not to remain silent in the face of corruption, no matter how important the person or persons involved may be. We should not assist the negligent and irresponsible commit more crimes by our passive and indifferent behavior. Strict monitoring and control will ensure that public rights are protected and will rid the society of the sick elements who use their influence to enrich those who deserve nothing while denying anything to the deserving. This would make every citizen with a grievance live at ease knowing that in the end, right will prevail and that violators would not escape unpunished.
Arab News From the Local Press 23 December 2002
