The Minister of Communications and Social Affairs Salem Al-Utheina noted that illegal international calls normally attract large patronage due to extremely low sum the operators charge. He said the majority of callers have abandoned the legitimate mode of calls sanctioned by the ministry for illegal and cheaper calls.
He also disclosed the government is fighting seriously against this illegal activity that attracts millions of Asian workers and their families. “We should understand that the heinous action is detrimental to the national revenues wherein millions are lost in a year”.
He noted many of those involved in illegal international call operations smuggled certain tiny objects into the country for the Asian technicians to use in tapping the telephone system.
In his reaction, former communications minister Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghunaim stressed that illegal telephone call operation is a dangerous activity in all ramifications. He is of the view that the idea of ‘call back’ service deprives the country of revenues worth millions of dinars.
He added the ministry must not hesitate to punish the gangs, considering the level of risk they constitute to the national revenue, as the country losses almost 30 million dinars monthly, through this act – particularly during the festive period.
According to the ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow-up Khalid Al-Wasmi, the ministry should take the blame for the unruly activity since officials have not been ruthless to the concerned Asian workers.
He reiterated that failure to take decisive step enables public funds theft through the lucrative and attractive illegal phone call operation, which makes almost 50 percent of the total international call revenue.
