JEDDAH, 8 October 2004 — Seventy percent Saudis surveyed in a poll said that they are ready to vote in the forthcoming municipal elections, while five percent said they are eager to be candidates.
The poll, conducted by businessman Sami Idrees on the role of citizens in municipal councils, however provided some shocking results on the way citizens view their roles in the elections, due in three phases from February, 2005. Asked about possible social reaction to the elections, 55 percent of those polled thought society was not going to accept the new electoral experience; only seven percent believed that society would appreciate it. Ninety-two percent of the respondents did not discuss the elections with their families or friends.
The results of the sample survey, covering100 educated Saudi men and women in the 20-50 age group, were revealed by Idrees at the second monthly meeting on the management of municipal councils organized by the Saudi Management Association in Jeddah on Wednesday. He was one of the four main speakers at the session which saw more popular participation in the discussion on the elections.
The first meeting, held in Riyadh, was an introductory step toward a wider discussion that is gaining more and more public participation and interest. A large number of men and women from different walks of life such as students, retired citizens, educators, and public employees were in attendance.
All four speakers of the evening dealt with various aspects of the duties of municipal councils. They drove home a common point — that the election is a first-time experience for Saudis and that mistakes and obstacles are a natural part of the learning process. They also called for a positive and realistic attitude toward election results and the entire poll process. The speakers also pointed out that resistance was an inevitable response to any new step or change in any community or culture.
The first speaker, Dr. Aydarous Al-Sabaan, a professor of management at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, dealt with the definition and basic tasks of municipal councils — such as budgeting and taking up new housing projects.
Dr. Abdullah Dahalan, a businessman and one of the election candidates, talked about how to integrate investments in the work plan of municipalities and how to attract investors. He stressed the importance of studied distribution of commercial centers and industrial cities.
Dr. Najat Al-Saegh, dean of university studies, spoke about the role of women in municipal councils — a role that has been speculated a lot recently.
The audience attending the seminar raised many questions on the rights of women to vote and contest the elections, on the need for awareness campaigns to prepare the public for the elections and on the question of who has the right to inspect future municipal councils.
Dr. Najat told Arab News after the seminar that “women all around are enthusiastic and ready for the elections as voters or prospective candidates. “They are well-prepared in the sense of being well-informed at various levels — socially, educationally, academically and in terms of professional experience. There is no need of a gradual process; they can start from the beginning of the ladder of involvement. They are there on or at the top of it all.
“Years ago at the university, deans of faculties and heads of departments were elected and not appointed. Then the appointment-system deprived us of the electoral option,” said a participant. “Now the university system is returning to the electoral method with a view to introducing and familiarizing people and students with the actual concept of elections.”
Different sources among officials and organizers attending the seminar told Arab News that until Wednesday morning it remained unclear whether the seminar would be open to women.
“Why is there a question of women’s participation?” asked a man during the open discussion. “In the Journalists Association, female journalists cast their votes and were voted for. In fact two women were elected on the Journalist Association council. So how are these elections different in terms of women’s right to vote or be vote for or not?”
Dr. Mustafa Al-Jihani, one of the participants, said during the open discussion “There should be an awareness campaign addressed and directed toward all social levels beginning from schools.”
“It is a woman’s duty to participate. Leaders have a duty to hear our voices, opinions and receive our counsel, as we as citizens have a right to be heard,” said Dr. Maysoon Dakheil, a professor of curriculum and teaching methods.
“We should change from the state of being passive to active citizens.”
