The elected municipal councils have failed to meet the expectations of the general public, a survey conducted by Al-Riyadh newspaper has found out. The survey, conducted 10 days before start of the 11-day poll campaign on Sunday, a majority of the participants did not see any positive role for the municipal councils. “Unfortunately we have not seen any role for these councils. Our hope that they will act as a link between us and government bodies have come a cropper,” said Khaled Al-Hamdan. However, some believe that it was early to judge the councils, as the system was new to them, he said. “We are waiting for the results that everybody hopes for. These results need time to appear. Besides, there might be administrative obstructions or something else, so we should not be hasty in our judgment,” said Al-Hamdan. Salman Al-Naser, another participant, said: “We have to find solutions for these councils and tackle them just like tackling other problems like roads and illegal workers. The truth is that we have not seen any tangible results achieved by former council members, especially in Al-Dariya governorate where roads and recreational facilities need organization. Foreign workers are in control of the business and work in the governorate and illegal workers are found everywhere,” he said. Dahham Dhafer Al-Qahtani called on the councils to interact with people to find out their problems. “Since the councils were approved we were happy and hoped for positive results, but nothing was accomplished. We can solve all the problems only when the councils have the intention to help citizens and work diligently,” he said. Sami Al-Nuwaiser said in the first year of the councils, he was enthusiastic and had a “Participant Card” issued. “But I don't think I will participate in the coming elections because I am frustrated. I don't think people will turn out in large numbers. Maybe some people will vote for candidates they know well, but generally, people will not vote in large numbers. I have observed the council's performance last year and saw no tangible accomplishment and nothing new the council achieved or even tried to achieve ,” he said. Mutaz Abdulrahman Al-Julaifi considers the municipal councils just as “decoration pieces”. “Yes we have seen candidates' campaigns but that's all we have seen, except for the promises and annoyance. We did not see any promises fulfilled. If the councils really want to work, each council should concentrate on members' districts and streets, and the municipal services introduced.” Naif Bin Zaid Al-Sihli said most members, if not all of them, are competing for serving their personal interests, not that of the citizens. The proof is all there for us to see: potholes on Riyadh streets, for example, damaged many cars, including mine. I hope for the members to be actually from districts where people have suffered, not rich people who possess hundreds of millions of riyals and did not feel the suffering of poor, the needy or average citizens in general,” he said.
