Opinion

Time to deliver on the promises

During the campaign, the candidates made various promises and it is the time to fulfill them

Citizens all over the Sultanate of Oman have voted for their candidates who will represent them in Majlis Ash’shura for the next four-year term. Candidates were impatiently waiting to get the results revealed. Some have won the game while others lost despite the efforts, time and money they had dedicated for their campaigns. Though, all got their chances, but some were not lucky enough to win.

All winners and those who voted for them were on cloud nine, celebrating their victory. People were happy for them with the hope that the elected will be supportive and reliable members. As well, the candidates were undoubtedly delighted to have won the election. It is not necessary that those who lost were not qualified, but maybe they did not get enough votes to beat their competitors.

As the elections are over now, winners are getting ready to officially get onboard in the Majlis. Congratulations on your win and May Allah grant you support and success to shoulder this responsibility. Hope you will be as serious and sincere as you have promised to your society and country during the campaign. It is time to fulfill all the promises you have made; this is the time to make them come true. People are happy for you because they gave you the trust and the support to be responsible and capable to serve the society.

During the campaign, most of the candidates made various promises to individuals, society and nation. Perhaps, you saw some of their promises showcased on different platforms during their campaigns. It was all for the sake of enticing people to vote for them. We all believe that only few of these promises will be accomplished. Anyway, at least they must try their best to get their promises fulfilled.

Dear members, not only individuals, but the government too is expecting you to be the right candidates to join the Majlis. All believe in you to be accountable and honest to represent your people for whom you will be their ambassador to the government. The government has also given you the responsibility to spare no effort to support the government through various committees, proposal and studies of the Majlis that are presented to the government authorities.

Late Sultan Qaboos placed his personal confidence and support on all members of Majlish Ash’shura. In one of his addresses, he stated: 'Each and every one of you is required to work for the national interest and carry out his patriotic duties with wholehearted devotion. In addition to this, one of the main tasks of every member is to give particular attention to the welfare and development of his local community. We are confident that your Majlis can make a constructive contribution to ensuring that this country continues to make steady and consistent progress'.

Reflecting on his confidence on all members, the late Sultan pointed out, 'You must always be prepared to deal realistically with matters affecting the higher interests of the nation and the citizen and when dealing with them, to look at them from the point of view of the country as a whole, with all its regions and wilayats, with no other purpose than that of the public interest'.

For all those reasons, all members are required to shoulder the nation-building responsibility along with the government in all spheres of life. As always, with authority comes responsibility and thus, being a member is an opportunity given to all candidates to play their significant role. Of course, it is an honour for all elected members to be assigned to this mission, but it should be carried out seriously and adequately. Congratulations to all members - it is time to fulfill your promises!