Al-Madinah newspaper
OF the many methods of psychological treatment available, doctors often resort to shock therapy for certain patients. This type of treatment, in which individuals are shocked by either electroconvulsive therapy or by inducing physiological shock, waking people up from negligence and helping them return to their senses.
Recently, the Sabq news website published the Arabic translation of an interview with Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense. The interview was conducted by none other than The Washington Post’s David Ignatius.
Crown Prince Muhammad spoke of how the new wave of reforms was part of the trauma which was necessary for the development of cultural and political life in the Kingdom.
He added that the shock was also necessary to curb extremism, an attempt to re-apply practices that were applied in the era of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Speaking about endemic corruption, he was quoted as saying; “You have a body that has cancer everywhere, the cancer of corruption. You need to have chemo, the shock of chemo, or the cancer will eat the body.” He added that the Kingdom would not meet budget targets without en end to the plunder of national wealth.
Crown Prince Muhammad applied “shock therapy” to confront the corruption that has spread firmly and decisively through the Supreme Committee for Combating Corruption. Most people detained in the recent corruption crackdown were released after paying compensation, which means most of them acknowledged that they committed mistakes and agreed to settlements as a result.
Some situations require shock therapy so that things can be brought back on track. Most members of society today know perfectly well that any reforms must include changes. Some of these changes may be are shocking and even painful for some, especially those who have become accustomed to doing business in a certain way. Regardless, these changes are necessary, important and unavoidable to achieve the desired results of Saudi Vision 2030.
