The correspondent, who said life had returned to normal in many areas, asked a number of shop owners if they expected a rise in prices, especially due to the scarcity of goods. The traders were surprised and said unanimously there would be no such a thing.
My small mind started nagging me with all sorts of questions. Are the Japanese people and merchants living in another planet that is magical, fabulous and unreal? The Japanese never cease to give us free lessons in social responsibility. They teach us that the Japanese merchant is human all the time, particularly in times of calamities. His ethics and principles will not allow him to exploit any such circumstances to increase his income. Has he obtained these principles by upbringing and culture or through punishments and government fines?
For us, life continues on our planet Earth. Our traders enjoy making extra profits at the expense of others. They seek all kinds of justifications to raise prices. If it rains in India, the price of Indian rice will go up in our country. If a group of cows commit suicide in Holland or Denmark, the cost of dairy products will go up in our country.
During the recent rain and flooding crisis in Jeddah, the prices of furnished apartments skyrocketed. Towing trucks doubled their charges. The cost of repairing and maintaining cars went through the roof. The civilized and humanitarian conduct of the Japanese merchant is a result of sustainable upbringing, which with time became an innate behavior. Whoever shows any sign of deviation from this will face harsh punishment.
Our corrupt merchants are not deterred by religion, culture, social responsibility or punishment. This was and still is the case. As for the future, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has provided enough resources for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to employ more staff to check the market in order to control prices. Let us see what will happen.
