Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Riyadh on Sunday. Also seen in the photo is Nazaha President Khaled Al-Muhaisin.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has urged all citizens, government authorities and organizations to fight corruption and protect integrity.

Addressing the International Anti-Corruption Conference here on Sunday, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, who read out the king’s speech, said corruption is a global problem which needs everyone’s effort to eliminate it.

He said Saudi Arabia is committed to strengthening principles that include fighting corruption and penalyzing those who are misusing public funds for private gain.

The two-day event was attended by several leading international specialists in the field of anti-corruption measures.

“Saudi Arabia has created the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha), an independent authority as part of the country’s strategy in its efforts to fight graft and corruption,” he said.

“We hope Saudi Arabia will be an example of integrity that our religion has emphasized in its teachings, and Saudi Arabia’s efforts are not limited to creating strategies but taking actions and implementing them accordingly.”

Nazaha President Khaled Al-Muhaisin said that along with its core efforts to combat corruption in all its forms, Nazaha seeks to spread a culture of protecting integrity in collaboration with other official bodies and civil society institutions.

“It introduced integrity clubs, which include thousands of students in collaboration with universities and scout organizations, to implement the values of integrity in the minds of future generations,” he said.

Al-Muhaisin said that in recognizing the importance of implementing development, economic and service projects in a timely manner according to specifications, the commission has directed its efforts to follow up in the implementation of these projects to ensure their compliance to standards, and investigate all aspects of financial and administrative corruption.

“Within the framework of the commission’s specialties in developing the regulations, policies and rules necessary to prevent and combat corruption, Nazaha, in collaboration with authorities, has submitted proposals and initiatives in this regard, including procedures relating to combating corruption issues,” said Al-Muhaisin.

“In spite of what has been achieved, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman, recognizes the importance of the ongoing work in protecting integrity and combating corruption as it is a joint responsibility.”

Al-Muhaisin said King Salman has ordered a review of the regulations of control bodies, to ensure the strengthening of their areas of specialization and to improve the performance of their tasks and responsibilities, thus contributing to the eradication of corruption, protecting public money and punishing the corrupt.

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