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RIYADH: Saudi citizens can now petition 90-year-old King Abdullah directly and lodge complaints through an internet site set up at the initiative of the monarch himself.
The portal tawasol.royalcourt.gov.sa, named after the Arabic word for “communication”, was launched on an experimental basis on Wednesday.
All messages are to be forwarded to the king.
“People will be able to inform the king about any shortcomings in the services offered by government agencies, and to take suitable action for the benefit of all citizens,” the website says.
More and more Saudis in the conservative state are turning to social networking sites to demand improved living conditions.
However, the authorities, who block access to politically sensitive or pornographic websites, made several arrests in March for tweets deemed offensive to the king.
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On DawnNews
Comments (18) Closed
May 03, 2014 11:35am
The Saudi king's portal should also be made available in English and French languages.
This is necessary so that people of other countries can also use this facility.
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May 03, 2014 02:37pm
what a nice and unique step by Saudi king... people who always criticize Arabs and Muslims...come and face it now
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May 03, 2014 03:36pm
@Husain Jan
Why English and French? Saudi Arabia is not a banana republic and doesn't have to cater to any foreign country.
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May 03, 2014 08:06pm
@Ganga Din
So why are you communicating in English?
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May 03, 2014 08:15pm
So, the entire hope would depend on how the "go betweens " present the cases to the King. That is not a very healthy sign. People would approach the GO Between, not the king. Would the GB consider your application, complaint against someone, when the nature of the case concerns the department whose head is his friend? Besides, since the applicants would be in hundreds every day, if not in thousands, GO BETWEEN would also be at least in dozens. We know how flattering go betweens to a king are. They can stretch a truth to look like a lie, and stretch a lie to be apparent as truth.
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May 03, 2014 08:47pm
I have recently returned from being blessed with a Umrah and was astonished at the scope and the meticulous attention paid to details to make this epic visit memorable. The Saudi Government has to be lauded for that. Islamic History shows that progress has been made by adjusting to the movement of time and it is heartening to see that the Ruling Family of Saudi Arabia is not lagging behind. This portal should be available in every language, to all of us who can express an opinion and if the King hears it then truth and justice embodied on Islam will always prevail. We must move with the times or we will be left behind. King Abdullah we salute you.
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May 03, 2014 09:55pm
@riz hahaha
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May 03, 2014 10:03pm
@Ganga Din
And why do you communicate on English?
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May 03, 2014 11:10pm
@Agha Ata - The lowest ebb of pathetic and negative thinking..
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May 03, 2014 11:54pm
@Agha Ata
You really think a 90-year-old king would have nothing better to do for his kingdom than read (often) silly little messages of everyone and anyone, all by himself.
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May 04, 2014 12:12am
@Harmony
I'm not Saudi national.
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May 04, 2014 12:22am
@Ganga Din
So Saudis should just stick to their Arabic? What a logic!!!
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May 04, 2014 01:07am
This is worthless carrot dangled in front a oppressed and strangled population
@riz
The Saudis do not represent all Arabs and Muslims so calm down
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May 04, 2014 05:29am
Saudis get internet hotline to king--------- that is good news now the respected custodian of holy places is ONLINE also. Dawn you did not show if that would be only in ARABIC or other languages too --- if in Arabic a lot of people will have to learn ARABIC inorder to get online on this NEW ONLINE.
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May 04, 2014 05:33am
@Harmony --- maybe Ganga din is trying to get online too and see what he can learn from the king on one on one basis. There is no harm in trying anyone's luck. Remember that when Lyndon Johnson, President of US visited Karachi, he saw Basheer Sarban with his donkey cart and he stopped his presidential carrade and got down and talked to Basheer and invited him to TEXAS and gave him a FORD TRUCK also --- this is not a story but real happening search about the story -- who knows Ganga din may get lucky if he gets on line with the king ONLINE
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May 04, 2014 05:35am
@Harmony It is more silly to think that the king would read the email by himself--- he has staff who are educated in US and UK and Pakistan and in Mecca and in Medina --- you should know better get online and try your luck.
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May 04, 2014 02:31pm
@sja That
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May 05, 2014 05:46am
Actually King Abdullah should get his own Facebook and twitter accounts .. so he can communicate directly with various people from all nations, not only Saudis.
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