Second-in-line to Saudi throne denounces banks

Second-in-line to Saudi throne denounces banks

 

[caption id="attachment_14348" align="alignnone" width="550"] (His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin, pictured here in 2007, says banks contribute too little to society compared to what they take. (File photo: Reuters))[/caption]

 

The second-in-line to the Saudi Arabian throne has denounced banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying they are contributing too little to society compared to what they take, Saudi media reported on Wednesday.

 

There were no indications that the comments by His Royal Highness Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, who was appointed to the post last month, would be followed by any concrete policies against banks in the country.

 

The comments appeared to be an effort to show sensitivity to the difficulties of ordinary Saudi citizens, many of whom face a shortage of affordable housing and an unemployment rate which was officially put at 11.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

 

“I call them a saw - they chew when they go in and chew when they go out,” al-Hayat newspaper quoted His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin as saying of banks while attending a charity function in Riyadh.

 

“They are on the short side in many things. They give little compared to the benefits they receive from citizens and from the state,” he added, responding to a question on the possibility of setting up banks for not rich.

 

The English-language daily Arab News reported on Wednesday that combined Saudi commercial bank profits in 2013 were the highest ever at 37.6 billion riyals ($10.0 billion), a 7 percent increase over 2012.

 

Social welfare has become more politically sensitive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since uprisings elsewhere in the region in 2011.

 

To ease social discontent, His Holiness The King Abdullah announced that year plans to build 500,000 homes, but construction has been delayed by bureaucracy and difficulties in obtaining land.

 

In a royal decree last month, His Holiness The King Abdullah, who is about 90, said His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin would assume the throne if the positions of king and crown prince became vacant.

 

“Give me one bank that has donated something or offers any support,” al-Hayat quoted His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin as saying.

 

(By Sami Aboudi | Reuters, Dubai)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 9 Wednesday April 2014 The Roman)