CAIRO - To assign an ombudsman taking the form of a three-member parliamentary committee, as recently suggested and initially approved by the transportation committee of the legislature, presents a viable solution to the never-ending complaints and claims of various societal sectors. Although the ombudsman is a well-established channel in many countries of the world that respect their people, successive Egyptian governments have never thought of it as an intermediate link that would help streamline many problems at both the individual and institutional levels. Diwan el-Mazalem was actually a significant department back in the l9th century in the days of Mohamed Ali Pasha, when Egypt was taking its first steps towards a modern state. So the revival of the ombudsman concept seems an enticing idea, considering the present furore on the Egyptian street where marginalised people, labourers and professionals do not know whom to address. The recently suggested ombudsman, however, concerns complaints related to the transport committee jurisdiction. But the idea is worthwhile applying to all sectors in an attempt to curb different sectors' protests, strikes and blocking roads and railways. As such, the ombudsman would therefore be part of emerging endeavours to change the culture of the people regarding complains and ways to claim rights. In fact, poor administrative and co-ordinating skills have been for decades a defect in the governmental system at large. Accordingly, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brothers, recognised as a well-organised entity, who won 47 per cent of parliamentary seats, is expected to transfer its experience in this respect to parliamentary activity including the foundation of such intermediate committees. The current disorderly scene, where everything seems permissible and is only confronted when it is almost too late, is in need of such organised efforts to establish a link between officials in office and individuals overburdened with woes and unfulfilled rights.
