Many of the decisions made by higher authorities are decided upon with an aim of serving the interests of the Kingdom’s citizens. However, it is very unfortunate that most of the time delays arise in the execution of decisions until a time comes when they are forgotten.
Although some decisions, if not all of them, are of great importance. But a delay in their implementation makes them of no use. For instance, the Saudization of taxicabs drivers has been stopped and now we’re left waiting for the decision to be re-announced again. Another example is the decision about giving Saudi women jobs in lingerie shops.
This has been also put off until further notice and only God knows when that’s going to be implemented. I strongly believe the delay in implementation of decisions is something very significant from a social perspective.
There are plenty of other decisions that have been announced then never see the light of day. Reasons for the delay or nonimplementation are also never given. There is also the decision made by the Higher Ulema Committee proclaiming that young girls should not be forced into marriage. The decision has now been temporarily stopped because there is no official body that can deal with the problems such girls face.
The question remains, why is it that these decisions are put on hold although they are time sensitive and important to a lot of people? Does the problem lie in the fact that decisions are issued without directions about how they should be implemented?
This is another example of the red tape prevalent within Saudi society. We expect to have detailed descriptions and step-by-step analyses to each and every aspect of our lives.
If we are ever confronted with a dilemma, which has no solution, then we end up reaching a dead end and sometimes we become paralyzed and unable to function.
The problem may lie in the pressures that exist in accepting and adapting to new decisions. Some people might reject or oppose certain decisions not because they contradict Islamic laws, but because they are not compatible with their narrow stream of thinking and direction. Executing governmental decisions is a time sensitive and serious issue. Delaying or hindering the process creates obstacles for the development and growth of the country.
We are in desperate need to speed up the way we currently operate. We especially need to increase employment opportunities for our youth regardless of gender.
I believe this is the best method to protect the society from potential complications. Unemployment can be considered to be the root cause of corruption, poverty, increase in crimes, and other negative and unsociable behavior. I don’t really think that delaying key decisions is in the best interest of our Kingdom. As Saudis we really need to work toward becoming efficient and more effective.
