Fighting coronavirus

THE kind of terror spread by the coronavirus has made it one of the hottest issues in all forms of media. It would not be an exaggeration to say that if media outlets continue to publish or air reports about this deadly virus, those reports would never fail to elicit huge response from readers/viewers.

People are still terrified with even the mention of this deadly virus, which has claimed 550 lives and infected nearly 1,072 people. The death toll is expected to rise, as more cases of coronavirus have recently been reported in Riyadh. Most of the patients are currently being treated at various health facilities across the capital city.

Such situations need to be handled very carefully so as to check spread of rumors that sometimes cause unfounded fears among the masses. The Saudi health authorities adopted a similar approach to help people stay calm. Panic had gripped the masses, as reports about this virus started to appear in the local media. The health authorities acted swiftly by downplaying the reports and by not releasing the actual death toll. Reportedly, the aim of the authorities was to focus on its efforts to control the virus.

However, spread of the virus continued. Following reports about visitors to hospitals having contracted the disease, some hospitals had to shut down their emergency departments.

Unfortunately, the health officials’ approach did not work as expected. All their arrangements to maintain a thin veneer of secrecy by concealing the name of hospitals treating coronavirus cases etc only contributed to the spread of the disease. Had people known about the health facilities where MERS patients were receiving treatment, they would have avoided visiting those hospitals. It could have saved their lives and helped the health authorities in effectively containing the outbreak.

It is a general practice across the world that people suspected of having contracted any contagious disease are quarantined immediately so as to check the spread of the disease. In our hospitals, patients spend one or two days walking in the corridors of emergency units before their infection is detected due to which spread of contagious diseases sometimes become unstoppable.

The health authorities should take full responsibility of the situation and should refrain from accusing citizens of not taking precautionary measures.

— By Sattam Al-Thaqeel

Economic reforms

ACCORDING to recent reports issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Saudi economy will remain one of the strongest growing economies in the G-20 countries mainly due to huge surpluses in public finances. Despite this positive report, the IMF has predicted that the Kingdom would register a deficit of 19.5 percent in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The IMF has recommended a number of measures to streamline public finances, which include reconsideration of fuel subsidies, control on public sector salaries and introducing different ways to raise revenues such as imposition of various taxes and fees on vacant (white) lands.

In its latest recommendations, the IMF stressed what Saudi experts had already proposed i.e. restructuring of the Saudi economy and diversification of the Kingdom’s sources of income. Currently, our economy heavily relies on the oil industry and we need to change the scenario for a more stable future.

The restructuring issue and diversification of income sources were on top of the strategic objectives of the first five-year plan but so far they have not been effectively implemented.

It is not that we don’t have ideas or strategies to change the situation. The problem lies in the bureaucracy, which is actually supposed to transform ideas into reality.

What has recently happened in the oil market, and what may happen, calls for immediate steps toward diversification of sources of income, restructuring of the economy and creation of new sectors capable of creating job opportunities and raising the GDP and exports.

— By Fadl Albo Ainain

Dealing with Iran

IRANIAN President Hassan Rowhani was the chief negotiator of a security deal signed in 2001 between Riyadh and Tehran after two-year marathon and thorny talks.

The deal envisages cooperation in the fight against terrorism, crimes, money laundering and monitoring of borders and territorial waters.

The deal was originally based on a joint communiqué issued in 1999 during the visit of former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to Riyadh.

As early as 1996, the two countries had agreed on a number of issues including oil, regional understanding, good neighborhood, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect of Iraq’s geographical integrity, support of the Palestinian cause and fight against terrorism.

A GCC-Iranian rapprochement is not impossible but creation of a good environment is the logical step to start any serious dialogue.

Unlike the atmosphere that was prevalent during the era of Khatami, the region is faced with great political tensions mainly due to Iran’s belligerence in the region. Iranian policies have pushed the unrest in the region to new heights by meddling in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon and Syria.

A month ago, the British paper “The Guardian” reported that Tehran was willing to convene a meeting with its GCC neighbors on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next month.

Similarly, “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” newspaper quoted a GCC source as saying Qatar offered a proposal on the launching of a GCC-Iranian dialogue.

Any step to create a GCC-Iranian rapprochement necessitates ensuring of conditions conducive to talks and it would not be logical to talk about a meeting while two teams in Tehran are speaking different languages: One team is marketing peace and the other is funding terrorism, which means we are dealing with a two-faced state.

— By Aiman Hammad

Anti-harassment law is a must

THERE is a great need to enact and implement strict anti-harassment laws in every society. The absence of such laws only contributes to social turmoil and affects the society.

We often read reports about molestation. Recently, an Asian expatriated molested a minor in a shopping mall in Riyadh. It is not enough to focus on the crimes committed by the expatriates. We cannot and should not ignore similar crimes committed by our youngsters. It is said that justice is blind, which means it does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, color or creed.

Enacting anti-harassment laws and their effective implementation is not a luxurious demand but a pressing need to curb such social crimes, which if left unchecked could snowball into some kind of social crisis.

Beyond any shadow of doubt, a person — belonging to any nationality — who commits such a heinous crime cannot be termed a healthy person. Such sick-minded people don’t even think twice about the impact of their actions on the young minds of their victims.

We also have to take into consideration the psychological consequences of abuse on the victim, which could persist for his entire life.

— By Sakina Al-Mishaikhis

Role of civil society

THE upcoming municipal elections have allowed the Saudi civil society to demonstrate its role and effectiveness, as it works independently from the government and private sector institutions.

It is a good chance for the civil society to assume a regulatory role that will help enhance credibility of the elections and impartiality of different institutions.

According to a statement issued by the spokesman for the municipal elections, no civic organizations have applied to monitor the elections. It would be pertinent to mention here that the government is offering all facilities to such organizations in this regard. This scenario indicates that the Saudi civil society does not acknowledge the importance of conducting elections and it is not aware of the importance of its role in the society.

If such organizations acknowledged their role and importance of elections, they would not wait for the call from the electoral committee.

— By Said Al-Siraihi

Violence at workplace

WE live in a world where we have to deal with its various imperfections. Violence at workplace is not a new problem. However, with the changes in office culture workplace violence has taken different forms.

Sometimes we think that some of the employees just exaggerate while complaining about their workplace.

That is, however, not the case. An employee may be exposed to workplace violence in many forms: If his salary is delayed by one or a couple of months, if he finds discrimination from his manager by favoring the one who is less qualified and skilled for personal reasons, if he is assigned extra work or forced to do things that are not part of his job description, or if his genuine complaints are not considered.

Female employees are subject to similar violence but they face more problems. Organizations that tolerate such environments always face growth issues in the long run. Since office is the place where an employee spends long hours of his day, and if he/she is not satisfied or the environment is not good, it not only affects an employee’s productivity but it also harms his/her overall personality.

We should not forget that employee satisfaction is very important for the growth of an organization.