A well-known Saudi writer launched a virulent attack on the Gulf Kingdom’s public sector, saying it is controlled by corrupt officials who are stealing state funds and urging measures to put them behind bars. 

Khaled al Suleiman, a regular writer in the mass circulation Saudi Arabic language daily Okaz and other newspapers in the world’s dominant oil power, said Saudi Arabia is “locked in a crucial war” against corruption and that it should take action to tackle the problem or it will get out of control.

In an interview aired by the Saudi satellite TV channel Al Majd, Suleiman said it was time that Saudi Arabia turns transparency from a mere slogan into action.

“Thieves stealing public funds have lost all decency and shyness…they steal in the morning then they wear their bisht (gowns) and receive people in the afternoon…a man who is accused of stealing a sheep is jailed and fined while those who are stealing our country’s funds and oil resources are dignified in the newspapers….I am sure that if the Kingdom enforces the ‘where have you got this from’ law, many dignitaries and personalities will disappear from the social page because their place should be behind bars,” he said.

“Fighting corruption requires bolstering auditing at all departments and establishments…I wonder why we move in a spirit of reaction rather than action…either we act to save the country from spreading corruption or we will all sink in the mud of thieves and beasts….we are now locked in a crucial battle against corruption which has bared its teeth everywhere.”

Suleiman sneered at reports criticizing some officials on the grounds they have not offered any real services to the public, saying: ”On the contrary, they have offered a lot of services but only to serve their interests and their partners.”

“Some officials are behaving as if they are spending on the citizens from their own pockets,” he added. “They always talk about the many projects and achievements they have made…..I think these projects are the slowest in terms of implementation and the fastest in terms of extinction….this is because of widespread bureaucracy which has created the right environment for corruption.”

Suleiman said all cabinet ministers should not be saved criticism, adding that one minister who is not related to the ministry of information succeeded in suspending three journalists. “This minister then went out to speak to the media, saying he always welcomes criticism.”

Suleiman then turned his cannons on the Kingdom’s anti-corruption authority, which was created by King Abdullah last year.

“This authority is based on three pillars—the power of right, its connection to the Monarch and its powers to question any one in the country…but it has remained a mere building facing many obstacles which we can not mention now.”

 In a recent report, Saudi Arabia’s state auditing body acknowledged the country’s government offices are suffering from low performance because corruption.

The General Auditing Bureau (GAB) said the public sector’s efficiency has remained far below the required level despite the massive budget allocated for them every year with the record high spending approved by Riyadh for 2011.

“Saudi Arabia is facing a series of problems including the modest performance of some government departments in the absence of incentives, efficiency and an environment that could support innovation,” it said.

“What happened in Jeddah (floods) clearly illustrated the poor performance of government departments because of bribery and widespread corruption….these institutions are also suffering from the lack of clear policies and action plans besides bureaucratic complications in decision-making…this is only putting pressure on the budget and increasing economist costs.” 

The report came just after King Abdullah created the country’s first specialized anti-corruption body following persistent complaints about widespread mismanagement and other malpractices in the public sector.

The National Authority for Combating Corruption handled its first corruption case in late 2010, involving the oil ministry and another government firm.