CHANGE is good when it comes with a purpose. And with Saturday's royal order to re-shuffle the cabinet a change has come with a purpose – the bid to reform many vital government bodies including judiciary, education, health, and the Shoura Council. Shortly after assuming the reins of power in August 2005, King Abdullah embarked on a reform journey “embedded in the spirit of tolerance, moderation, and balance,” as he said in Makkah. The remarks manifested the King's vision of a society based on the spirit of “infitah” or openness and “islah” or reform. “We are progressive by virtue of our Islam,” the King has often said in his public addresses. Saturday's reshuffle of the Council of Ministers, religious and judicial establishments is part of the process of reform as the King has undertaken to tread the path of moderation, tolerance and balance as called for by Islam. In tune with this process the King also ordered the reformation of the Senior Ulema Council with 21 members, representing all four Muslim schools of thought. Abdul Aziz Bin Humain takes over from Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ghaith as head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. In his first comments given to a TV channel, Humain said: “We will seek to achieve the aspirations of the rulers.” Sheikh Saleh Al-Lehedan, former chief of the Supreme Council of Justice, has been replaced by Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid, who has been serving as the Shoura Council Chairman, a man who has met world leaders at his council, including US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The reshuffle also takes into consideration the reform in public education, which of late has become a subject of criticism in the Kingdom itself, let alone the West. Much of such criticism will be put to rest with the appointment of Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah as Minister of Education. Education professionals have already pinned hopes on him and his two new deputies, Faisal Bin Muammar and Norah Al-Fayez. Bin Muammar said that their goal is to graduate new generations armed with dialogue objectives and moderate thinking. The appointment of Norah Al-Fayez as Deputy Education Minister proves that the King is serious about women's empowerment. Al-Fayez is not only the first woman to serve as deputy minister but also takes the initiative to upgrade girls' education. She said that her appointment is an honor for all Saudi women. Former Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Abdul-Aziz Al-Khoja takes over as Minister of Information and Culture. Khoja, who has been in the media field for a long time, has come to continue the role of a more responsible and balanced media in the Kingdom. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabea, who is famous for supervising about a dozen successful surgeries to separate conjoined twins, has been appointed health minister. Time has come for him to take health services up a notch across the Kingdom after public hospitals have received harsh criticism. This is the first major shake-up undertaken by King Abdullah, sending out a clear signal to those who point accusing fingers at the Kingdom that the King means business. __
