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The disciplinary status of Bahraini society reflects responsible community awareness during this critical period that the world is witnessing and significantly impacts countries, Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said in a comprehensive dialogue with the editors-in-chief of local newspapers yesterday.
He shared valuable insights into Bahrain’s current state of affairs, highlighting the country’s strengths.
When asked about the most important lessons learned from current happenings, the minister highlighted the importance of identifying potential dangers and addressing them promptly.
He coined the term ‘expected or anticipated surprise’ to describe the need to tackle potential threats before they escalate.
He also stressed the role of technology in managing situations and the impact of media on the circulation of accurate information.
Regarding the risks of politicising religious speeches, the minister stressed that mosques are meant for worship, prayer, and preaching, not for political activities. He expressed his gratitude towards mosque managers and preachers, acknowledging their commitment to maintaining the country’s 1,304 grand mosques and mosques.
“There were violations in only one mosque related to politicised sermons and illegal rallies after Friday prayers. Al Diraz mosque remains open for all prayers, with a ban on provocative speeches and rallies. Managerial affairs of mosques and the appointment of preachers are the responsibility of the religious endowments. Thus, mosques have no board, similar to clubs and societies,” he added.
On the topic of political seminars and lectures in majlises, Shaikh Rashid expressed concern about the deviation from the traditional goals of majlises. “Majlises are part of our cultural heritage, and their social status must be preserved. However, using them for political purposes is a transgression, and we hold the owners accountable for any violation,” he added.
The minister discussed the global phenomenon of traffic congestion, predicting that the number of vehicles in Bahrain will reach one million in 10 years.
“The number of vehicles increases annually by an average of 3.26 per cent, with an average increase of 20,000 cars annually. The authorities are implementing a multi-pronged strategy. Despite various efforts, the number of registered vehicles in Bahrain continues to rise, with approximately 676,137 vehicles on the road to date,” he said.
“The Traffic Council has approved an updated traffic improvement strategy, which includes six key dimensions. With the objective of developing smart systems for managing and monitoring traffic, we will install 500 smart cameras to monitor violations and link traffic lights to the traffic control room.
“Another proposed solution is to set a default age for driving cars, similar to Singapore. Additionally, the government is promoting the use of public transportation,” he underlined.
The minister highlighted the National Plan to Promote the Spirit of Belonging to the Nation and Reinforce the Values of Nationalism (Bahrainouna), which follows the principles of the reform era of His Majesty King Hamad.
“The plan aims to promote Bahraini identity and heritage, with research papers to be presented at an upcoming conference. We have partners from government institutions and the private sector and have launched more than 107 initiatives. We will soon announce the formation of the preparation committee for the National Conference to reinforce the Bahraini identity.”
He encouraged citizens to visit the National Civil Protection Platform, which provides advice and guidance to protect their safety in crises and disasters.
“The development of the National Ambulance has completed its first phase with 12 centres and three ambulance points. We plan to increase the number of centres to 21 and introduce air and sea ambulances in the future.
“The average number of cases per day reaches 155 and 1,090 per week. We will adopt artificial intelligence in developing ambulance management.”
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