Dr Ibrahim Al Shiekh
It is well-known that the ghoul of corruption has become a sly-monster phenomenon getting what it wants and spreading its arms to places you may not even
think of.
Corruption has become a large tribe with new crimes depending on circumstances, time and place.
We thought it was confined to stealing public money, but we later found out that it is multifaceted and quite diverse. It includes bribery, manipulation and embezzlement of funds through waste, abuse, money laundering, accounting crimes, forgery and many other types.
Of course, it goes beyond that by using influence and power abuse politically, religiously and administratively.
As I told you, it is a large tribe of bad behaviours that has invaded the entire world. It is well-defined in our countries through the unfair distribution of wealth and social injustice that could vary from country to country.
Corruption is seen in the West in a more settled way where political and economic lobbies have control over super empires, hence dominating westerners whether they like it or not!
There is a strange situation that I cannot decode — the germ of corruption has a great ability to adapt to all conditions. It doesn’t recognise laws, treaties and audits because it is able to make a virtual environment that attracts all people to this disease, and you find that they are very skilful at achieving an abnormal efficiency in practicing corruption!
In our Gulf States, there are many hard working and vital organisations trying to fight financial and administrative corruption, but they sometimes seem like someone trying to clap with one hand!
Our states signed multiple international anti-corruption agreements and treaties that are sanctioned by the General Assembly of the United Nations. However, what is the real impact of these agreements on the ground? What is the effect of these treaties and those bodies on all forms of development in our countries?
Kuwait has a National Assembly since 1963 and an Audit Bureau that was established with a decree in 1964, and then amended in 1977.
This is, of course, other than the legislations and the striking role of the press and civil societies.
In Bahrain, the topic has varied since 1973 to the 2002 Constitution. There is also the Shura Council and the Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as the Office of Financial and Administrative Control, in addition to the role of the public prosecutor who is supposed to open any issue on corruption based on authority endowed to it by royal decree.
This is combined with a list of projects approved in the Parliament to strengthen this trend, most notably the financial disclosure law, which recently began to be applied. In addition to the press, there are civil society organisations to support this trend.
At the Arab and Gulf level, Qatar is doing much better on the Corruption Perceptions Index.
Qatar has established a national body of management and transparency control in 2011 that will soon be re-organised by a government decision. In addition to the role of the legislative council, the press and civil society organisations support that function.
UAE has achieved a good position in the Corruption Perceptions Index. An Abu Dhabi government department has been established to fight corruption and promote integrity. Just like in Bahrain, the public prosecutor plays his role in investigating government corruption cases separate from any state authority.
From 2011, the Saudi Arabian Cabinet approved national strategies recommended to protect integrity and fight corruption. Subsequently, the National Authority for Combating Corruption was established, which has since been very active.
The Sultanate of Oman has established a separate body for financial audit. The president of the body is of the rank of a minister and is appointed by royal decree. It controls and supervises all state ministries and institutions and independently submits its report to the head of state.
What has been mentioned above confirms that goodwill exists and similar initiatives are on their way. In addition, international conventions and treaties exist in which our countries have been engaged with the aim to stop abuse and waste of
public funds.
What I want to say is that there are other steps to be taken into consideration in
this field.
Mixing business and politics is a disaster that is affecting the development and credibility of political and economic reform in our countries.
If political decisions overlap political power pockets, it will not produce independent decisions and will not benefit the country and the citizen.
I think that the partnership of those agencies in our countries must be activated to protect and promote our internal Gulf systems, at least from the viewpoint that “the best one to hire is the one who is strong and trustworthy.”
Finally, I would like to emphasise that there is goodwill requiring drastic decisions in audit and accountability, which will certainly protect the governmental system internally and externally.
The writer is a columnist and researcher.
