New Shoura members excited beyond words
04:45AM Sat 12 Jan, 2013
[caption id="attachment_21003" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed[/caption]
DAMMAM:There was excitement in the air as the names of the new Shoura Council were announced yesterday. Women members were particularly satisfied at finally having been given the chance to be part of the Kingdom’s decision-making process.
“This is a turning point in the life of the Kingdom,” said Thuraya Arrayed, who was among the 30 women appointed to the Council. “It is a great honor and a great responsibility."
She was all praise for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his efforts to empower women. “It is going to be a positive experience; all of us are very hopeful, very optimistic, that the trust and the confidence reposed in us will lead to good things,” she told Arab News yesterday.
According to Arrayed, the onus now is on women to prove that the direction shown by King Abdullah is correct. “He has cleared the path for us and now it is our duty to prove him right,” she said.
Eastern Province Chamber President Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed expressed happiness at his appointment to the Shoura Council.
“I feel very honored at the trust reposed in me by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government. This is a big task, and I hope to live up to the expectations of the king,” he told Arab News.
Al-Rashed was not sure if he would continue as the chamber chief. “That will have to be decided later after looking into the rules that govern Shoura Council members,” he said.
Al-Rashed is a successful businessman and very popular member of Saudi Arabia’s private sector. He has been elected as the Asharqia Chamber president on many occasions. He has been very vocal in articulating the issues facing the business community.
“I will take all the experience that I have gained here at the chamber to the Shoura Council and will do my best to discuss all concerns of the business community in that important consultative body,” said Al-Rashed.
Al-Hasa Chamber President Saleh Al-Afaleq was also among those who were appointed to the Council. He was equally delighted.
“There can be no two opinions that it is a great honor to be among the distinguished and chosen members of the Shoura Council; serving the nation is always a great feeling,” Afaleq told Arab News. “I am very grateful to King Abdullah and promise to work very hard for the Kingdom.”
He said since he has been chosen as a businessman, he would focus on the needs and aspirations of the business community. “The Shoura Council is tasked with reviewing important laws and regulations and that is where I will articulate the position of the business community,” he said.
Afaleq said it was heartening to note that he was chosen at a time when women too have been nominated to the consultative council. “This is a historic moment because we will now hear the voice of the women in the council, so I am very happy and very optimistic about the great future of our Kingdom,” he said.
National Commercial Bank chief economist Said Al-Shaikh was reappointed for another term. He was first chosen for the key body in 2009. “I am happy for being honored for the second time. Shoura Council is an important decision-making body that legislates crucial laws, and to be in there is a great honor,” he said. “I am grateful to King Abdullah and his government for having chosen to appoint me for a second consecutive term.”
Explaining the importance of the Shoura Council, he said: “The Shoura Council is a policy-making body that reviews various laws and performance of various ministries and important institutions and comes up with important suggestions and critical feedback. The body also provides valuable input to the Kingdom’s crucial five-year plans.”
- Arab News
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed[/caption]
DAMMAM:There was excitement in the air as the names of the new Shoura Council were announced yesterday. Women members were particularly satisfied at finally having been given the chance to be part of the Kingdom’s decision-making process.
“This is a turning point in the life of the Kingdom,” said Thuraya Arrayed, who was among the 30 women appointed to the Council. “It is a great honor and a great responsibility."
She was all praise for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his efforts to empower women. “It is going to be a positive experience; all of us are very hopeful, very optimistic, that the trust and the confidence reposed in us will lead to good things,” she told Arab News yesterday.
According to Arrayed, the onus now is on women to prove that the direction shown by King Abdullah is correct. “He has cleared the path for us and now it is our duty to prove him right,” she said.
Eastern Province Chamber President Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed expressed happiness at his appointment to the Shoura Council.
“I feel very honored at the trust reposed in me by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government. This is a big task, and I hope to live up to the expectations of the king,” he told Arab News.
Al-Rashed was not sure if he would continue as the chamber chief. “That will have to be decided later after looking into the rules that govern Shoura Council members,” he said.
Al-Rashed is a successful businessman and very popular member of Saudi Arabia’s private sector. He has been elected as the Asharqia Chamber president on many occasions. He has been very vocal in articulating the issues facing the business community.
“I will take all the experience that I have gained here at the chamber to the Shoura Council and will do my best to discuss all concerns of the business community in that important consultative body,” said Al-Rashed.
Al-Hasa Chamber President Saleh Al-Afaleq was also among those who were appointed to the Council. He was equally delighted.
“There can be no two opinions that it is a great honor to be among the distinguished and chosen members of the Shoura Council; serving the nation is always a great feeling,” Afaleq told Arab News. “I am very grateful to King Abdullah and promise to work very hard for the Kingdom.”
He said since he has been chosen as a businessman, he would focus on the needs and aspirations of the business community. “The Shoura Council is tasked with reviewing important laws and regulations and that is where I will articulate the position of the business community,” he said.
Afaleq said it was heartening to note that he was chosen at a time when women too have been nominated to the consultative council. “This is a historic moment because we will now hear the voice of the women in the council, so I am very happy and very optimistic about the great future of our Kingdom,” he said.
National Commercial Bank chief economist Said Al-Shaikh was reappointed for another term. He was first chosen for the key body in 2009. “I am happy for being honored for the second time. Shoura Council is an important decision-making body that legislates crucial laws, and to be in there is a great honor,” he said. “I am grateful to King Abdullah and his government for having chosen to appoint me for a second consecutive term.”
Explaining the importance of the Shoura Council, he said: “The Shoura Council is a policy-making body that reviews various laws and performance of various ministries and important institutions and comes up with important suggestions and critical feedback. The body also provides valuable input to the Kingdom’s crucial five-year plans.”
- Arab News
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