Voters have high hopes on new Shura members

Omani voters have high expectations from the 84 elected members of the country's advisory council (Majlis Shura)."We will wait and see how these elected members will perform in the context of anticipated reforms and more powers," Ziyad Al Beloushi, 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 address national as well as local issues and serve the people of the country."I am happy I voted for a deserving candidate and he won the elections," he said, adding banker Mohammad Bin Salim Al Wahaibi has good credentials to take up issues that particularly concern old Muscat town."We have a major problem of drug abuse among youngsters," he said, adding youngsters could be kept occupied by creating facilities such as playgrounds."If they are kept busy, they can get rid of the menace of this social evil called drug abuse," he said.He pointed out Al Wahaibi had already started work 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 said. "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 condition of anonymity.However, he added he was glad a deserving candidate from the Muttrah area won. "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 there were all kinds of pressures during the elections to vote for particular candidates and expressed concern at this trend.He felt sad about only one woman being elected to the Shura. "Women don't vote for women," he said.Nasra Al Adawi, who works with the country's only independent think-tank, hopes the winners will advocate and work for better education."I hope they also work on legislation to protect woman's rights," she said.She conducted a series of workshops in the run-up to the elections to raise awareness about the need to elect women. She feels the tribal factor still remains strong in the election process and advocates a quota system for women.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 the country's ruler had announced there would be more powers for the Shura this time. "We are waiting for a royal decree that will grant more power and then we can work better for our countrymen," he said.Al Ka'abi said 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.