The Premier yesterday called for urgent new measures to step up Bahrain's fight against corruption. A system to combat economic crime as well as its current judiciary role is vital, he said. Establishment of an anti-corruption agency was urged by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at a work meeting yesterday.
"Interior Ministry powers need to be expanded to strengthen internal and external operations of the government and implement what has been agreed upon at the National Dialogue," the Premier said. He mandated Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to submit a proposal for administrative, technical and legal organisations for implementation of the anti-corruption measures to be submitted to the Cabinet, in order to save public money.
"This will in turn enhance transparency, competitiveness, economic development and improve the performance of state agencies," the Premier said. He directed authorities to develop a law relating to real estate ownership and the practice of professions in this sector, in co-ordination with the legislature to streamline completion of the draft law submitted by the government.
He also instructed authorities to bring in new rules, restricting membership of government representatives on the boards of institutions and state firms to only two terms. "These new rules should also ensure that these government representatives must not be on the board of two establishments at any given time," he said.
