News Desk
MALE’ — Allegations of administrative overreach and political retribution have dominated today’s sessions of the People’s Majlis, as opposition lawmakers mounted a fierce critique of the current administration’s employment practices and fiscal management.
Dr Ahmed Shamheed, member for the South Hulhumalé constituency, levelled sharp accusations against the government, characterizing the appointment of political staff outside the constitutional authority granted by Article 115 as the “greatest form of corruption” currently plaguing the state.
Addressing the assembly, Dr Shamheed argued that these appointments, made beyond the scope of presidential powers, constitute a significant misappropriation of public funds. “The greatest act of corruption—or rather, the most unlawful act—is the appointment of staff by the President using powers not conferred under Article 115,” he stated.
Furthermore, Dr Shamheed raised concerns regarding excessive waste within state-owned enterprises (SOEs). He specifically pointed to a project undertaken by FENAKA Corporation in Addu City, where three buildings were constructed using an “in-house” policy. According to Dr Shamheed, this approach is projected to cost the state an additional 70 million Maldivian Rufiyaa, citing it as a primary example of fiscal mismanagement.
While acknowledging that previous administrations had also hired temporary staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, he argued that those decisions were policy-driven responses to a crisis, whereas current practices lack similar justification.
Retrenchment as ‘Political Punishment’
The debate intensified as Hassan Ziyaad, the MDP member for the Vaikaradhoo constituency, slammed the recent mass layoffs within state-owned enterprises. The government has ordered these companies to reduce headcount as part of a “right-sizing” initiative, a mandate reinforced by a circular from the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) setting a three-month deadline for completion.
Ziyaad dismissed the government’s terminology, arguing that the layoffs are thinly veiled acts of political retribution following recent election results.
“The cat is out of the bag,” Ziyaad told the Majlis. “While I acknowledge that companies are overstaffed—that is a reality—it is clear these measures are being used as a punishment. The government gives it a pretty name, calling it ‘right-sizing,’ but in reality, they are causing hardship for the public.”
Ziyaad further accused the administration of lacking transparency, alleging that the current reduction of the payroll is being executed without any clear framework or logic. He contended that the burden of the state’s fiscal woes is being unfairly placed on ordinary citizens, and that lawmakers were being restricted from speaking freely on the matter.
“This is not being done out of ignorance; these are deliberate actions,” he added, suggesting that the government is hiding behind administrative reforms to pursue purely political agendas at the expense of the livelihoods of thousands of Maldivians.