Expectations run high for new Shura members

The Omani voters are now waiting with high expectations to see the performance of 84 elected members to the country's advisory council (Majlis Shura)."We will wait and see how these elected members will perform in the context of aniticipated reforms and more powers," Ziyad Al Balushi, a young automobile marketing executive, told Gulf News.As far as this 26-year-old private sector employee is concerned, he would like to see the Shura members to address both national as well as local issues and serve the people of the country."I am happy that I voted to a deserving candidate and he won the elections," he said, adding that banker Mohammad Bin Salim Al Wahaibi had good credentials to take up issues that particularly concern the old Muscat town."We have a major problem of drug abuse among youngsters," he said, adding that the youngsters could be made busy by creating facilities such as play grounds. "If they are kept busy, they can get rid of the menace of this social evil called drug abuse," he felt.He pointed out that Al Wahaibi had already started working in that direction. "We have confidence that he will do more but expect that to happen step by step," he said.Al Balushi said that he didn't succumb to the pressure of voting for his own tribe. "I voted for a deserving candidate, who would work for the people of the area as well as the country," he added.However, another young Omani was not so lucky to vote against the wishes of his own family. "I voted because I was asked to vote for a candidate by the elders in my family, I did that out of choice," said the private sector senior banker on the condition of anonymity.However, he added that he was glad that a deserving candidate won from Muttrah area. "Although I didn't vote for him, hopefully he will work towards improving the road network in Muttrah, while also addressing the larger issues concerning our countrymen in general," he added.The young banker also said that there were all kinds of pressure during elections to vote for particular candidates. "From family and tribal connections, candidates also used cash and other rewards to make people vote for them," he said, expressing concern at this wrong trend.He felt sad about only one woman getting elected to the Shura. "The women don't vote for women, otherwise with 40 per cent women votes there should have been at least ten women elected," he feels.Nasra Al Adawi, who works with the country's only independent think-tank, hopes that the winners will work and advocate for better education. "I hope they also work on legislations to protect woman's rights," said Al Adawi, who had conducted a series of workshops in the run up to the elections to raise awareness about the need to elect women.She felt that the tribal factor still remains strong in the county's election and for women competition is tough. Therefore, she advocates, quota for women in the election. "I wanted to see more women in the Shura. So, may be, reservation could be another way of getting more women represented in the council," he said.Four-time winner from Mahadha Salim Bin Ali Al Ka'abi, expects a different Shura experience this time."Shura in Oman has evolved gradually and His Majesty (Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed) has gradually developed it, so I see further development this time too," he told Gulf News through an interpreter.He pointed out that the country's ruler had announced that there would be more powers to the Shura this time. "We are waiting for a Royal Decree that would grant more power and then we can work better for our countrymen," he said.Al Ka'abi said that he would work to solve the problems of people in Mahadha and would join hands with the other Shura members to address the larger issues facing the country in recent times.