12 December 2003
There seems to be no end to the plight of the ailing King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, the gateway to the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. The airport’s outdated facilities and equipment, crowded lounges and chaotic air traffic movement all locate the airport in another era.
The screens showing departure and arrival times and the electronic signboards on the gates have long ceased to function. For months no one seems to have been able to fix this vital equipment. Passengers have to have excellent hearing to be able to recognize what the announcer is trying to tell them amid all the noise and confusion, or shuttle between one gate and another seeking information about their flights.
It is an irony that the Saudi Arabian Airlines lounge at Cairo International Airport is completely different. Here everything is neat and orderly and functions without a hitch. All credit to the airline for designing and executing this marvelous facility, which reflects its ability to handle operations no matter how big they might be.
That this kind of work has been done elsewhere should motivate the Presidency of Civil Aviation to expedite the development and expansion of KAIA. We shouldn’t wait until, God forbid, tragedy strikes. The complaints and growing dissatisfaction of passengers seem so far to have had no effect.
* * *
The fact that the Ministry of the Interior has put a bounty on the heads of the 26 terror suspects does not mean the authorities have lost all hopes of capturing them. All it means is that the ministry is determined to catch them as quickly as possible.
The reward is money well spent. Every halala the ministry invests in measures to arrest one of those terrorists could mean averting an explosion or a shooting by the terrorists that could harm innocent people. If the authorities choose to spend money protecting the Kingdom’s citizens and guests, that is an important and commendable decision.
However, the financial motivation for coming forward with information should not let us lose sight of the genuine patriotism that is involved. We must all be honest with ourselves and with our leadership; we must become the eyes and ears of the government if we want to protect its security; and we must do this irrespective of any financial reward we may be able to earn.
Terrorism does not target individuals — it is without limits or restraints. Its victims are innocent citizens and expatriates, old and young, male and female. Terrorists treat people equally: Everyone is a target.
* * *
(Muhammad Al-Shibani is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah.)
There seems to be no end to the plight of the ailing King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, the gateway to the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. The airport’s outdated facilities and equipment, crowded lounges and chaotic air traffic movement all locate the airport in another era.
The screens showing departure and arrival times and the electronic signboards on the gates have long ceased to function. For months no one seems to have been able to fix this vital equipment. Passengers have to have excellent hearing to be able to recognize what the announcer is trying to tell them amid all the noise and confusion, or shuttle between one gate and another seeking information about their flights.
It is an irony that the Saudi Arabian Airlines lounge at Cairo International Airport is completely different. Here everything is neat and orderly and functions without a hitch. All credit to the airline for designing and executing this marvelous facility, which reflects its ability to handle operations no matter how big they might be.
That this kind of work has been done elsewhere should motivate the Presidency of Civil Aviation to expedite the development and expansion of KAIA. We shouldn’t wait until, God forbid, tragedy strikes. The complaints and growing dissatisfaction of passengers seem so far to have had no effect.
* * *
The fact that the Ministry of the Interior has put a bounty on the heads of the 26 terror suspects does not mean the authorities have lost all hopes of capturing them. All it means is that the ministry is determined to catch them as quickly as possible.
The reward is money well spent. Every halala the ministry invests in measures to arrest one of those terrorists could mean averting an explosion or a shooting by the terrorists that could harm innocent people. If the authorities choose to spend money protecting the Kingdom’s citizens and guests, that is an important and commendable decision.
However, the financial motivation for coming forward with information should not let us lose sight of the genuine patriotism that is involved. We must all be honest with ourselves and with our leadership; we must become the eyes and ears of the government if we want to protect its security; and we must do this irrespective of any financial reward we may be able to earn.
Terrorism does not target individuals — it is without limits or restraints. Its victims are innocent citizens and expatriates, old and young, male and female. Terrorists treat people equally: Everyone is a target.
* * *
(Muhammad Al-Shibani is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah.)
Muhammad Al-Shibani
© Arab News 2003
