Saudi- 'Traders time price hikes with bonus declaration'

(MENAFN- Arab News) The decision to grant a two-month salary bonus to all government employees is said to be the reason behind the sharp increase of food prices in Makkah.

Mohammad Al-Sahli a member of the National Society for Human Rights in Makkah blamed the Ministry of Commerce's Makkah branch for its inaction arguing that the price rise was manipulated to coincide with the announcement of bonus payment.

Calling on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) and the Control and Investigation Board to intervene he demanded that those in charge at the ministry's Makkah branch be made accountable for their failure to arrest the situation.

According to the human right's activist a crime is being committed since some establishments are stealing citizens' money and undermining the government's efforts to improve their standard of living.

'I believe the ministry is not interested in the well-being of citizens but rather their special deals with businessmen and traders' said Al-Sahli accusing certain officials of influence peddling. He demanded that the ministry carry out inspections at all branches of the ministry to ensure that corrupt civil servants were punished.

Al-Sahli said citizens are also responsible for the rising cost of living due to their apathy toward corruption. He asserted that their failure to take a unified stance or boycott high commodity prices is also part of the problem.

'We fear that the poor will not be able to buy essential food items due to the sharp increase in prices' Al-Sahli added.