So by the approval of the Saudi cabinet of ministers on the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the royal decree that guided, or better to say, sponsored the idea of a national anti-corruption commission comes into effect.
As outlined in this announcement, the commission responsibilities revolve around combating all forms of administrative and financial corruption, following up on plans concerning the public interests to ensure fair execution and compliance to laws, that’s in addition to promoting transparency in all governmental work.
Quite goals to accomplish and objectives to satisfy. Given that the commission is just starting, we, as Saudis, certainly hope that it will reach those nicely put strategic goals. However, strategy won’t move unless carried on tactical wheels, so to speak. If it is legitimate to ask how Saudis are reacting to the announcement of such commission. I would say that they are full of hope, but yet skeptical! Public policies, for some reason or another, are usually doomed with slowness. Once you got caught at the web of bureaucracy, it is extremely hard to break out!
For that, and if they are willing to take my advice, for this commission to establish itself on the scene and to gain credibility and respect, I would say that they should adopt the slogan of ‘Fast & Furious.’
Be Fast: Do not allow much of a time to pass without issuing some kind of comments, reports, or even punishments against those practicing any kind of corruption or misusing power! I agree that the commission is new and it would definitely need some time to create its own organizational structure and culture, and I know that it will be dealing with sensitive cases that need to be investigated independently and thoroughly, but acting fast would give it an immediate presence on the scene and, most importantly, it will be taken seriously!
Be Furious: be furious in the sense of not adhering to normal and usual bureaucratic obstacles. And more importantly, not submitting to ‘Wasta’ and people of power and influence. After all, the King himself got your back! There are many managerial initiatives and techniques that could be used to maneuver obstacles and constraints. They just need fresh innovative minds, and the desire to embrace modern managerial practices!
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- Sama; Another Sad Story of Saudi Aviation Industry
- The Saudi Trains
- Doubling the Salaries, or Not!
Fareed
June 8, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Where and how do I report a huge graft / corruption in Riyadh to? Is there any email ID or Fax numbers to send a SHIKWA or a complain of corruption?
Saad Al Dosari
June 9, 2011 at 12:04 am
Hey Fareed … important question. I have searched the net for any website, emails, phone numbers for the commission … found nothing!
The closet I could get was this FB page, which I am not totally sure it is official; it is (http://ar-ar.facebook.com/SaudiAntiCorruption?sk=wall)
Flavorless Josephus
December 9, 2011 at 10:51 pm
An employment agency by the name of Virtual Visions
also known as V2 and previously known as Al-Kam Trading and M-Trading proves that company name changes in the KSA must be fast and affordable! I and several other Americans were tricked into a job by this company- now known as Virtual Visions. We were offered Health Insurance, but after we arrived we were told we must pay for it. Some offer! We will never get an iqama- so… we cannot open bank accts, or remit money and that’s the only reason I came to the KSA.
I have also just learned that our iffy 90 day visas will extended and we will be charged for them! I am not sure it that is true however. What I do know is that now Virtual Visions (also known as V2) has withheld our November pay checks from us and told us they will NOT pay us our back salary until we sign a new contract. How could this be? Are they trying to imply that we somehow were allowed to arrive in the KSA without a contract? If that is true, it would mean their is some form of complicity with the government officials?
I have written the USA Consul about this. I have also written the Senior Vice president of SBG here in Jeddah, because they own the company in Bahra- which entrusted Virtual Visions with the task of hiring foreigners for them. If someone could assist me in forwarding this to the Saudi Ministry of Labor- I and all the abused captives in this Kingdom would benefit. My prayers for those without a voice in such matters. Surely this cannot be what a Great Prophet intended.
asiaopps@gmail.com
Flavorless Josephus
December 9, 2011 at 10:57 pm
PS: So now I observe that there maybe is no actual anti-corruption commission and like everything that motivated me to come here has been nothing more than a blurry-eyed mirage for the naive and hopeful?
Saad Al Dosari
December 12, 2011 at 9:46 am
Hello there,
What a sad story to hear … I believe you should also be in touch with the Ministry of labor, check out this their website for contact info (http://portal.mol.gov.sa/Sites/default.aspx)
Syed Maqsood Ali
January 30, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Required education, awareness, & comprehensive system with real CHECK & BALANCE on grass-root level to stop this cancer.
Saad Al Dosari
February 15, 2012 at 8:40 am
Can’t agree more.