Khaled Al-Solaiman Okaz A BASIC feature of the chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) Mohammed Al-Sharif is his openness. He is also very tolerant of criticism. No two people will differ on his integrity, honesty and determination to shoulder his responsibilities. In my opinion this man faces two main problems with society. The first is the media coverage of the activities of Nazaha is like foam on seashores, which are much in quantity but of no real value. Nazaha does not seem so far to have put its hands on the root cause of corruption. Many bellies have been inflated and bank deposits increased without Nazaha being able to reach them. Its activities are like treating pimples rather than eradicating sores. The second problem is the lack of confidence in Nazaha by a section of society. This mistrust is not in the seriousness of the commission to do its work but in its ability to achieve the objectives for which it was established. When I met Al-Sharif for the first time in his office I repeated to him what I had written when the establishment of the commission was announced. I told him openly that if Nazaha was not able to get through the thick walls and jump over the high fences, it would not be more than a new government department headquartered in a government building. Corruption destroys the hopes and aspirations of any nation, obstructs its development and erodes its stability. Our battle with corruption is a ferocious one which we could not bear to lose, otherwise we would lose not only our country but our present and future as well. It is a battle between the nation and some individuals and between institutions and some gangs. It is a battle between good and evil.
