Writers, academics and members of the literary world have spoken forthrightly of what they see as the failure of the Shoura Council to address the true concerns of the public. Issues of vital importance, they say, have been ignored at the expense of problems of minor interest, and they call for greater focus on issues that have a direct bearing on the public, among them unemployment, Saudization, education, drinking water, sanitary infrastructure and human rights. The Shoura (Consultative) Council is a legislative body that advises the King on issues important to Saudi Arabia. Formed in 1993 following a Royal Decree from the late King Fahd, the council consists of 150 members appointed by the King for a four-year renewable term. Members are assigned to committees, according to their experience, that deal with human rights, education, culture, information, health and social affairs, services and public utilities, foreign affairs, security, administration, Islamic affairs, economy and industry, and finance. Originally restricted to the discussion of regulations and issues of national and public interest, the mandate of the council was broadened in 2004 to include proposing new legislation and amending existing laws without prior submission to the King. Now, in the light of the recent reforms made to various government bodies by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, members of the literary and academic worlds have assessed what they see as the successes and failures of the Shoura Council. Pressing issues “The work of the Shoura Council has drawn global attention since its inception,” says Hammad Hamid Al-Salimi, Vice Chairman of Taif Literary Club. Its contribution in enacting and amending regulations in different fields is deserving of appreciation and its contribution will become more productive in future with the many pressing issues requiring the Council's urgent intervention. These issues include the faltering projects for development and reform, education, drinking water, agriculture and human rights. All these issues await the Council's concerted attention. Other pressing subjects include intellectual issues that the Council has not dealt with, such as extremism, allowing women to drive cars, and admitting female members to the Shoura Council.” Time-consuming debate and study Dr. Muhammad Qari, a member of the Taif Literary Club and representative of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in Taif, says the Council's discussions have produced tangible effects. “However,” he continued, “its methods, when debating and studying issues, involve a time-consuming process that prevents swift decision-making on some issues that need quick resolutions.” Unemployment and Saudization Dr. Wafa Khankar, a female critic, said the Council's recent work has not differed greatly from when it began. “Despite its short life, the Council has had several accomplishments. However, it has failed in several other areas including finding a suitable solution to the issue of permitting women to drive cars.” “I believe that the reason for the Council's failure to tackle some issues is the absence of an agency that links its members with the real problems on the street. For quite some time, the Council has been discussing issues that might not be of great concern to the public whichexpects more from it. The public wants to see other issues addressed, such as unemployment and its future effects on society, and Saudization,” Dr. Khankar said. Abdul Rahman Al-Obeid, former chairman of the Eastern Province Literary Club, agrees, and further laments the disparity in attention given to various regions of the Kingdom. “The Shoura Council must focus on the needs of the public everywhere. All cities and governorates must have an equal share of the opportunities and projects.” Al-Obeid says the media should also play a prominent role in making the citizen's voice heard by the Council, and added that, at the same time, the public must take the initiative to increase its interaction with the Council. Holding ministers accountable Dr. Othman Al-Braikan, a member of the teaching staff at King Saud University, avoids any specific praise or criticism of the Council's work, contenting himself with saying that it has not noticeably addressed any issues of genuine public interest. According to him, there are issues of higher priority than those usually tabled for discussion, foremost among them being ministerial accountability to the public. Al-Braikan asks whether the achievements of the Shoura Council have measured up to its ambitions and whether issues have been correctly prioritized. “There are many pending issues of public concern,” Al-Braikab said, “most notably education, health, and crime.” Al-Braikan wonders why the Council is hesitant to use the expression “accountability” when it summons ministers for questioning. “In other words, questioning ministers should encourage the public to interact with the Council on the issues that concern them, and not in the discussion of other issues.” “That is not to say that there have been no accomplishments,” he added, “but only that they do not measure up to the level of ambitions. High hopes are placed on the council given that it is the highest legislative authority in the Kingdom.” Public influence The public can make themselves heard through a variety of means, Al-Braikan says. “The Shoura members are sons of this nation, not strangers. The voice of citizens, their issues and demands, can reach the Shoura Council if its members look into feelings on the ground, or through an interactive link on the council's website. Al-Braikan says he would like to see the formation of a follow-up committee to address this area. “The leadership urges agencies and councils every week to show concern for the public, but we have not seen any response to these calls from the officials,” Al-Braikan says. “The Shoura Council could bridge this gap between the decision-makers and the ministers.”
