The king’s command came after the head of the NACC complained about the lack of cooperation of some governmental bodies despite the text of the Article 5. Al-Sharif urged the government to respond positively to the demands of the commission and do what is required.
He warned that the commission would publish the name of the governmental bodies that refuse to cooperate. He added that his commission would ask to interrogate those causing the delay.
Observers expect that the king’s decision will have a positive impact on the commission’s work and its role in monitoring the government. Clearly, the new approach will only allow for investigative data gathering in an efficient way. Al-Sharif thanked the king for his support.
The head of the NACC pointed out that the king’s instructions are a clear indication of the interest of the wise leadership to support the commission and to help the body carry out its tasks as stated in the bylaws of the commission which was issued by the Cabinet in 12/5/1432 H. Al-Sharif said the king’s decision requires that the commission report to the king the name of the governmental bodies that do not conform to this new approach. He called on all to cooperate with the commission.
The NACC head drew attention to the fact that the commission had earlier called on all governmental institutions and state-owned companies to put signs of specific measurements about the project. He mentioned that these signs should contain the name of the project, the name of the contracted entrepreneur, the date and price value of the contract, the date of submitting the site of the project to the entrepreneur, what should be the first day of the contract, the expiry date of the project and the period of renewal if any.
This can help the commission to spot aspects of administrative and financial corruption. The purpose of having signs is to activate the partnership with citizen when it comes to overseeing projects that are done for their sake. This can also enable them to inform the commission of their observations in case of defects.
In this regard, specialists said that the NACC works diligently and in an institutional way. It enjoys the direct support of King Abdullah and Crown Prince Naif. They also said that this entails the cooperation of all educational, media, and cultural efforts so as to contain corruption. It also requires new legislations and also reconsidering old legislations that has loopholes.
Ayid Al-Aradi said that the new instructions provide the commission with all support needed to follow up and contain corruption whether financial or administrative. He also pointed out to the bureaucratic procedures in some institution that encourage financial and administrative corruption. He emphasized that this phenomenon exists in service institutions that are subject to a great deal of pressure. He also wished that the commission could equip itself with culture, thinking and Shariah as tools in fighting corruption.
We should not forget that education and socialization are the pillars of fighting corruption. Clearly the task of the commission is a heavy one and for this reason there is a need that it plays a key role in putting a cap on corruption.
He said that the commission should launch an educational and media campaign, hold workshops, a biannual conference, legal leaflets, and a yearly report of the case of corruption in the Kingdom. This suggested report should be the basis upon which we can assess the sector most afflicted by corruption. This can allow for better focus on the areas of corruption to offer the right remedy.
On the other hand, some Saudi citizens have started a parallel route for fighting corruption through mass media, sarcastic criticism, and the revealing of some facts and mistakes in lack of implementation of administrative resolutions. This can happen via YouTube. Suffice it here to mention the Fleeing Group (fi’a falah) comedy, which present some critical stuff.
In this regard, Mohammed Al-Zulfa told Arab News that the royal decree came as a genuine step in the right path to fight corruption. This new approach has rolled the ball in NACC court. There are no excuses now, said Al-Zulfa. The commission’s relationship is now with the king immediately and no one has control over its work. What is required right now from the commission is to expedite its work.
He said that the commission has good capacity with some experts and tools of working. It has to take into account the impact of corruption on the lives of people. Al-Zulfa stressed the commission is supported by the king, the press, and activists working in civil society organizations. He called on the commission to work with transparency. It has to come up with suggestions and offer remedy for problems, he said, adding, certainly, there are some young Saudi people with talent who can be recruited to work for the commission.
He said the commission should reveal the names of those involved in corruption regardless of their position. Take for instance the housing problem in the Kingdom. The Ministry of Housing allocated some SR250 billion and this requires a lot of transparency. The ministry should declare its procedures and mechanisms through which the project is going to be implemented.
Finally, Al-Zulfa stressed the need to convene workshops at the national level including questionnaire to know the opinion of people. Also there is a need to acquaint people of their rights and to inform them not to give to corruption and to resort to the commission in case they get blackmailed.
