His Majesty King Abdullah has stressed that public policy will never be held hostage to rumours and ignorance and using these rumours to hinder the progress of the country is completely unacceptable.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, His Majesty said that “if anyone has any proof of any intentional wrongdoing, please stand up and let it be known… I welcome, and indeed encourage, public criticism when it comes to the question of transparency.”

In the interview, conducted by Petra's Director General Ramadan Rawashdeh, King Abdullah said that he and his father, the late King Hussein, have worked extremely hard to promote Jordan as an investment destination.

“I have a vision for the future: I want Jordan to be the most prosperous country in the world; I want it to be open to the world and unafraid,” the King said.

His Majesty emphasised, however, that investment should not come at the expense of transparency, adding that his message to the government is: “You have challenges that have not been faced by previous governments, at the same time opportunities exist like never before… And always communicate clearly and transparently with people.”

King Abdullah voiced pride in the achievements Jordan has made in the past years, stressing that to deny the steady progress made is a “crime”.

The King added: “From where I sit as the head of the nation, I regard it as my top priority to protect and guard the Constitution and ensure that my three branches of government - executive, legislative and judicial - abide by it to the last letter.”

Commenting on the wave of rumours that have recently spread over some measures taken by the government, His Majesty said that criticism of government policies in tough times and using it to further a certain group's agenda is fair play and happens all over the world. “But using blatant lies and childish rumours that obstruct our progress is not fair play and is unacceptable”.

The King stressed that Jordanian tribes will remain the pillar of the country's strength, steadfastness, stability and progress, stressing that Jordan is “a state of law and equal opportunity, justice and equality; a state of institutions that are protected by the Constitution and by its brave Armed Forces and security institutions of which we are proud”.